15/05/2025

THURSDAY | MAY 15, 2025

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Ex-deputy chief minister denies breach of trust charges

Police inspector claims trial in bribery case KUALA TERENGGANU: A police officer with the rank of inspector pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM23,000 in connection with a drug case that he handled four years ago. Khairul Faiz Mohamad Zaini, 37, is charged with receiving bribes of RM15,000 and RM8,000 from an individual through transfers into a third-party account before being moved to a bank account belonging to his wife. The bribes were allegedly given in exchange for releasing three individuals who had been arrested and removing syabu from police arrest reports related to raids and arrests he had handled. He is alleged to have committed both offences at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation office at the Terengganu contingent police headquarters on Feb 26, 2021. The charges are framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same law and provides up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Khairul Faiz was unrepresented and appealed for a lower bail, citing several factors, including that he and his wife fully cooperated with the MACC since their arrest in July last year and have consistently reported to an MACC office every month. He added that he earns around RM7,000 a month and is burdened with significant debt while his wife is unemployed. Judge Mohd Azhar Othman granted bail at RM7,000 in one surety for both charges and ordered him to report to the nearest MACC office every month, surrender his passport to the court and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses. The court fixed June 18 for mention, submission of documents and the appointment of a lawyer. – Bernama Couple’s car collides with elephant JOHOR BAHRU: A married couple hit an elephant with their car at Km50 of the Johor Bahru–Mersing road on Tuesday. Kota Tinggi district police chief Supt Yusof Othman said in the 9.20pm incident, the 40-year-old and 38-year-old were travelling from Kota Tinggi to Mersing. “Four elephants unexpectedly crossed the road, leaving the driver unable to swerve in time and resulting in a collision with one of the animals.” “The front part of the vehicle was severely damaged. However, the couple were unharmed.” He said the elephants, including the one that was hit, are believed to have returned to a nearby forest after the incident and a police report has been lodged by the couple for documentation and insurance claim. “Authorities are advised to increase monitoring in the area as the route is frequently used by wildlife.” – Bernama

watching brief for the board. The court also set July 15 for mention. It was reported that MACC had arrested Ramasamy on May 12 last year and he was released on RM20,000 bail pending investigation. Under Ramasamy’s leadership, PHEB’s reserves reportedly rose from RM1 million to RM11 million. PHEB is a statutory body tasked with managing Hindu religious properties and assets in Penang. The former DAP member left the party in 2024 to form the political party Urimai. Ramasamy was appointed as deputy chief minister II after winning the Perai state seat and Batu Kawan parliamentary seat in the 12th General Election in 2008. In August last year, current PHEB chairman R.S.N. Rayer submitted the findings of an internal forensic audit to the MACC for further investigation but did not detail the nature of the findings, which allegedly contained several important clues.

requested bail at RM90,000 for all charges against Ramasamy, and for him to surrender his passport to the court and report himself at a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once a month. Ramasamy’s counsel Dr Shamsher Singh Thind requested that the bail be reduced on the grounds that his client, who holds a doctorate in political science from Universiti Malaya and was once a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is unemployed and dependent on his pension money. His legal team contended that the charges were baseless, arguing that he derived no personal benefit and had acted to uplift the Indian community. The accused is also represented by lawyers Eng Yuh Pei and Archana Chandrasekaran. The court set bail at RM78,000 in one surety and ordered Ramasamy to surrender his passport. Datuk Selva Mookiah appeared on behalf of PHEB, holding a

for the purchase of a gold chariot to two companies without first obtaining approval from PHEB. Ramasamy, who chaired the board from 2010 to 2013, is accused of committing the offences in the northeast district between 2019 and 2023. The charges were read before judge Zulhazmi Abdullah at the Sessions Court yesterday. The 75-year-old politician also faces two counts involving the unauthorised disbursement of RM65,000 in medical expenses without prior board approval. The remaining two charges concern the allocation of RM15,000 for education sponsorships, also allegedly approved without proper authorisation. All charges are framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides up to 20 years’ jail, whipping and a fine, upon conviction. The prosecution, represented by Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Azuyar,

PUTRAJAYA: three-week surveillance operation by the Immigration Department has uncovered two syndicates offering fake temporary work permits (e-PLKS) to foreign nationals in Kuala Lumpur. The first raid took place at 9.30am on Tuesday at a carpet shop in Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, where a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man was caught processing the fake documents on his computer. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the suspect charged RM50 per document, printing and preparing them himself. Several forged e-PLKS documents, foreign passports and doctored business papers were seized from the premises. “He had been operating for about six months and is believed to have earned between RM45,000 and RM50,000,” he said at a press conference yesterday. The suspect held a valid temporary work permit that is due to expire in April next year. Later the same day, three Indian nationals aged between 39 and 64 were arrested during a separate raid A BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang deputy chief minister II and ex-chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) P. Ramasamy pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), involving RM859,131.29 of funds belonging to PHEB. On 13 counts, he is charged with committing CBT as the then PHEB chairman, who was entrusted with the funds, by dishonestly misusing the funds to pay a total of RM779,131.29 in separate payments via cheque and telegraphic transfer o Court grants bail at RM78,000, orders former DAP member to report at MACC office monthly Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Immigration Department busts fake permit syndicates

Zakaria (third, right) speaking at a press conference regarding e-PLKS forgery and illegal agents at the department yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

and a laptop, Bernama reported. MACC money director Norhaizam Muhammad confirmed the arrests when contacted, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 41(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. laundering prevention division e-PLKS documents and RM94,332 in cash were confiscated. All suspects are being held under Subsection 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Subsection 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966. Seven locals have also been summoned under Section 40A of the Immigration Act 1959/63 to assist with investigations.

employers trying to keep foreign workers in the country undetected. “Our officers are equipped with scanners. When the QR code on a fake e-PLKS is scanned, the system flags it as tampered,” he explained. In total, 504 foreign passports, four computers, four printers, 23 Construction Industry Development Board cards, 40 i-Kads, several fake

in Jalan Masjid India. All were in the country illegally and involved in a similar fake permit operation. “Passports of foreign nationals from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal were seized,” Zakaria said, adding that the syndicates operated independently. He said the fake permits were likely used by overstayers or

Three bank officers arrested over money laundering, corruption KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested three bank officers from two banking institutions in the capital city over suspected involvement in money laundering and corruption regarding loan applications valued at over RM21 million. branch manager are suspected of owning, amending, transferring and using money from bribes received from three companies last year. “Preliminary investigations and approving the loans,” the source said, adding that the suspects were arrested at between 4pm and 5pm at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya when they showed up to provide their statements.

revealed that the department head asked for and received bribes of over RM170,000 from the companies, which made five loan applications. “The bribes were for processing

The MACC also froze four accounts owned by the individual with over RM268,000 and seized three telecommunication devices

An MACC source said a business manager, a department head and a