07/03/2025

FRIDAY | MAR 7, 2025

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Customs officer died of strangulation: Police o ‘Case still classified as sudden death report’

Sabah cops nab duo, seize RM3m syabu KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have seized 63.55kg of syabu worth about RM3 million following the arrest of two men in the Penampang district on Feb 27. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said in the 9am raid, a team from the Sabah Narcotics Crime Investigation Department detained two men who were in a vehicle at a supermarket parking lot. “Upon inspection, they found four big boxes containing packets of syabu that were placed at the back of the vehicle,” he said on Wednesday. Jauteh added that the two suspects, aged 30 and 33, tested negative for drugs and had no criminal records. They are believed to be acting as drug couriers. “The two suspects have been remanded until today, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment,” he said. He added that further investigations found that the drugs were brought to Sabah from the peninsula to be transported to a neighbouring country via Sandakan. Meanwhile in Penang, police busted an ecstacy distribution syndicate following the arrest of a local man and a foreign woman in a raid around the Jelutong area on Monday. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in the 8.45pm raid, powder and liquid ecstacy worth over RM1 million were seized. He said police had earlier arrested a local man in front of a shop, and a subsequent search found three plastic packages with labels containing MDMA (esctacy) powder valued at RM19,706. “Following questioning, police were led to a car park in the same area, where they inspected a vehicle and seized 50 bottles of what is believed to be 19,700ml of liquid MDMA worth RM15,000, and 16 covered cups suspected of containing MDMA powder estimated at 672g, valued at RM4,800. “Police then proceeded to a condominium unit in the same area and arrested a woman. “A search of the property uncovered 265 plastic packages in various colours, suspected to contain MDMA powder weighing approximately 6,718g, valued at RM1.12 million, and 23 covered cups suspected of containing MDMA powder weighing approximately 966g, valued at RM6,900,” he said in a statement. – Bernama Cleaner gets jail for housebreaking, theft GEORGE TOWN: A cleaner was sentenced to 11 months’ jail and RM2,000 fine by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday after he pleaded guilty to breaking into the Komtar state assemblyman’s service centre office to steal money last December. Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri handed down the sentence for C. Murli, 47, and ordered him to serve an additional two months in jail if he failed to pay the fine. He was charged with breaking into the assemblyman’s service centre office, which is used for administrative purposes, to steal office utility funds at 8.11pm on Dec 26, 2024. According to the case facts, on Dec 27, an office worker discovered that a drawer containing a cash bag had been rummaged through, and that RM7,259 in cash meant for office utility payments was missing. The worker reviewed the closed-circuit television footage and saw the man breaking into the office and stealing the money. His fingerprints were also found at the scene. Murli, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lighter sentence, stating that he earned RM50 per day. Deputy public prosecutor Syairah Aqilah Khalil requested an appropriate sentence for him. – Bernama

compression of the neck due to ligature strangulation. “According to the post-mortem report and the pathology expert’s statement, the investigation remains under SDR,” he said when contacted yesterday Meanwhile, a Bernama check at the department found the victim’s family members were present to claim the body. However, they avoided media personnel and declined to be interviewed. It was reported yesterday that a 45-year old officer was found dead on the office floor with his neck and legs tied with cable ties. The customs officer was found dead at the Treasury Office, Finance Ministry, and an examination at the scene found no criminal elements. At 4.45pm, the body of the Customs Tribunal officer was claimed by family members to be taken to the Nirvana

Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, for funeral arrangements. The hearse carrying the body was seen leaving the Forensic and Pathology Department of the Putrajaya Hospital with two family members of the victim who had been present since noon. Efforts by media personnel to get a reaction failed as family members still refused to give any comments. Meanwhile, a source revealed that the deceased was believed to have been missing since Monday after clocking in for work. An internal search was conducted, and the Civil Defence Force later found his body in a room within the ministry. The Finance Ministry, which also verified that a death had occurred at its complex, said in a statement it is deeply saddened by the incident and has extended condolences to the bereaved family. at a motoring company in Puchong, Selangor. “The complainant was also shown a customs import form as proof that the car had been imported into Malaysia. Beginning June 15, 2020, he made 18 payments, totalling RM2.4 million, to a company account specified by the suspect,” he said. In January 2022, the businessman received several photos of a car seizure notice, after which the suspect assured him that he would resolve the issue, complete the registration, and transfer ownership of the car. However, to date, the complainant has neither received the vehicle nor been able to contact the suspect, who has since disappeared. Ramli said the suspect’s last known address was No. 703, Pangsapuri Sri Indah, Jalan Sg Besi Indah 2, Taman Sungai Besi, Seri Kembangan, Selangor. He urged the public with any information about the suspect to contact Insp Ruzanna Khairion at 010-442 5916. – Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: A three-hour post-mortem on a Customs Tribunal officer revealed that the cause of his death was from compression of the neck due to ligature strangulation. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said based on the post-mortem report from the Forensic and Pathology Department at Putrajaya Hospital, the case is still classified as a sudden death report (SDR). “A pathology expert from the Forensic and Pathology Department of Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang conducted the post mortem. “The cause of death was determined to be

Prime suspect in forex fraud case identified KUALA LUMPUR: Police have identified the prime suspect behind a foreign exchange (forex) investment fraud involving a company, which has resulted in losses exceeding RM24 million. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime He added that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, with findings indicating that the scheme, launched around 2019, promised investors a 7% monthly return. Interested participants were required to download a designated investment app.

Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said authorities are finalising the investigation, and actively tracking down the suspect. Dismissing claims that the case was not being investigated, he stressed that since the probe began last year, five individuals, in their 30s, suspected of being mule account holders for the fraudulent investment scheme, have been arrested – both last year and earlier this year. “A total of 80 reports have been received, involving losses amounting to RM24,813,086.47. The investigation is nearing completion,” he said yesterday.

“The issue arose when the company shifted the investments to cryptocurrency without the investors’ consent. Investors could only view their purported profits through the app, but were unable to withdraw their funds,” he said. In a separate case, Ramli said police are tracking down a local man, Lim Voi Heng, suspected of cheating a businessman in a Lamborghini Aventador sale, five years ago. He added that the suspect had allegedly offered to sell the luxury car to a 34-year-old man for RM2.4 million in June 2020. The complainant reportedly met with the suspect several times, and even test-drove the vehicle,

FREE MEN ... From left: K. Puvanisveran, 58, S. Purusothaman, 42, and R. Viknesh, 39, escape conviction after the High Court judge acquitted and discharged them of charges related to the possession and trafficking of methamphetamine six years ago. – BERNAMAPIC