25/03/2025

TUESDAY | MAR 25, 2025 5 Officer charged with receiving bribes IPOH: An immigration officer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to charges of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to RM16,000 two years ago. On the first charge, Azdee Muaz Md Adnan, 50, was alleged to have solicited RM10,800 from Amira Natasha Zaidi, 30, a clerk at EZY Engineering Works (M) Sdn Bhd, as an inducement to expedite the process of obtaining quotas in the Manpower Recalibration Programme 2.0 for the company. He was charged with committing the offence at an office on the ground floor at No. 240, Jalan Kamunting, on July 25, 2023. Azdee Muaz was also charged with receiving RM5,200 from one Nurul Syakirin Mohd Hanapiah, 33, as part of the payment for the purpose at the Kenny Rogers Roasters Restaurant, in Kinta City Shopping Centre at Ipoh Garden between 1pm and 2pm on Aug 3, 2023. The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which provides imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety and set April 29 for mention. Azdee Muaz was also ordered to report himself at a MACC office once a month and not intimidate witnesses in the case. The prosecution was conducted by MACC prosecuting officer Shahrul Azuan Ghazali, while the accused was represented by lawyer Md Yusuf Idris. – Bernama Ismail Sabri summoned again to MACC HQ PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob turned up at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters yesterday to continue giving his statement as part of investigations into allegations of corruption and money laundering against him. The vehicle carrying Ismail Sabri arrived at 9.54am, marking the sixth day he was summoned to the MACC headquarters for his statement to be recorded. The Bera MP is being investigated over alleged corruption and money laundering involving expenditure and procurement of funds for the promotion and publicity of the Keluarga Malaysia programme during his tenure from August 2021 to November 2022. The case is being investigated under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. - Bernama Remains of man found in razed house LABUAN: A 53-year-old man was killed when his wooden house in Kampung Lubok Temiang was destroyed in a fire early yesterday morning. The victim, identified as Usman Tuah, was found on the ground of his razed house at Simpang Mat Isa around 2am. He was believed to have been living alone since the passing of his mother several years ago. Labuan Fire and Rescue Department director Abdul Rahman Ali said they received a distress call at 2.20am and immediately despatched two fire engines with 21 personnel to the scene. “When we arrived, the house was already completely destroyed.” The victim’s body was sent to Labuan Hospital for a post-mortem. Abdul Rahman urged anyone with information about the fire to report it to the nearest police station. – Bernama

Major drug rings busted in Penang, Perak raids

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police arrested four individuals, including a married couple, and confiscated drugs worth over RM6.6 million in a series of raids conducted from Saturday to Sunday. State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department conducted the operation and successfully dismantled two drug syndicates through public tip-offs and intelligence efforts. In the first case, two local men were arrested, and authorities seized 1,938 packets of methylenedioxymethamphetamine powder weighing 38.8kg, 24 packets of heroin weighing 6.8kg, 0.946kg of syabu and 50.4g of ketamine. The total street value of the drugs is estimated at RM6.5 million. “The operation, between 3pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, involved raids at three locations. The first suspect, a 27-year-old lorry driver, was arrested in Juru, Bukit Mertajam, and the drugs were found in his vehicle,” Hamzah said at a press conference yesterday. o MorethanRM6.6min narcoticsseized,includingliquid meth packedashealthdrinks

Meanwhile, in Perak, police dismantled a drug trafficking operation with the arrest of a married couple at Taman Canning in Ipoh and seized RM1.19 million worth of liquid methamphetamine disguised as health drinks. State police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the suspects, a 30-year-old man and his 29 year-old wife, were arrested at a petrol station on Thursday afternoon. He said a search of the male suspect at the petrol station’s courier service counter uncovered six bottles labeled as health drinks, containing 1,287 millilitres of methamphetamine . “Police also raided their home in Chemor and discovered another six bottles containing 34,784 millilitres of liquid methamphetamine,” he said, adding that police also seized a Perodua Myvi, drug packaging equipment and a mobile phone during the raid. “Initial urine tests found the female suspect positive for benzodiazepine , while the male suspect has a prior drug-related record.” Noor Hisam said investigations revealed the syndicate had been active since June last year, distributing drugs for local and international markets. “The seized drugs are estimated to be sufficient for 373,331 users. Both suspects have been remanded for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.”

He said police later arrested a 20-year-old unemployed man near the first location and subsequently raided his residence in Mak Mandin and uncovered more drugs. Both suspects tested negative for drugs but had prior criminal and drug-related records, said Hamzah, adding that the syndicate is believed to be linked to international drug trafficking networks. He said investigations also revealed that the syndicate smuggled large quantities of drugs from a neighbouring country in northern Malaysia, repackaged them and transported them via sea to another neighbouring nation. The drugs entered Malaysia through land routes and were then smuggled out by sea. The operation is believed to involve foreign nationals working as transporters, earning RM3,000 per successful trip, reported Bernama In a separate case, Penang police raided a house in Permatang Pauh at 9pm on Saturday, arresting a local couple and seizing drugs worth RM160,884 . “A search of their house uncovered 4.939kg of methamphetamine and 100 Eramin 5 pills. Police also confiscated cash, two cars, two motorcycles and a watch, with a total value of RM177,100,” said Hamzah, adding that the couple, both unemployed, tested negative for drugs. He also said the drugs seized from both cases could supply up to 350,000 addicts.

Hamzah (fifth from left) showing some of the drugs and paraphernalia seized in a series of raids conducted over the weekend in Penang and Perak. – BERNAMAPIC

University professor claims trial to bribery charge SHAH ALAM: A professor from a public university pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today, to two counts of accepting bribes, amounting to RM5,071. The act was allegedly committed two years ago. 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, reported Bernama. citing the accused’s frequent international travel for academic purposes.

“The accused poses no flight risk, as he is a long-serving professor at a local university. His presence in court today was not due to an arrest but a voluntary response to a notice received on Friday. This demonstrates that he has no intention of fleeing,” the lawyer argued. Muaz Ahmad countered that the prosecution’s application did not violate the accused’s right to liberty, as he could still apply to retrieve his passport from the court when necessary. Judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin granted bail at RM10,000 in one surety, imposing the additional conditions requested by the prosecution. The court set May 13 for mention.

MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Aliff Shahruzaman and DPP Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyers Mohd Faizi Che Abu and Yusfarizal Yussoff. Earlier, Mohd Aliff offered bail at RM15,000 in one surety and three additional conditions – the accused to surrender his international passport to the court, report to the nearest MACC office monthly, and refrain from disturbing prosecution witnesses. However, Mohd Faizi requested the court to set bail at RM5,000 and to forgo the condition requiring his client to surrender his passport,

Ahmad Rifqi Md Zain, 48, is accused of abusing his position as the principal of a university residential college, and allegedly receiving bribes of RM2,000 and RM3,071 on May 24 and June 2, 2023. He is charged with accepting the bribes as an inducement to assist Light Green Enterprise in securing a contract to supply and deliver collared t-shirts, lanyards, mufflers and ziplock bags for residential college students, during the 2023-2024 session. The charges were framed under Section