21062025

SATURDAY | JUNE 21, 2025

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Mohd Khalid Ismail appointed new IGP

Man charged over indecent online comments SEPANG: A diver pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to 11 charges of making indecent and excessively obscene comments on Facebook earlier this year, targeting Nurul Izzah Anwar, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter, The accused, Ruslan Mat Ali, 48, a single father, entered the plea after the charges were read before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman. He is accused of knowingly making and initiating the transmission of indecent and excessively obscene comments with the intent to annoy others, on the Facebook account under his name Ruslan Mat Ali, between Jan 21 and Feb 25. He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to one year or both, upon conviction. According to the first charge, the indecent post was accessed on Feb 4 at about 7am at MCMC Tower 1, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. For the second to eleventh charges, the posts were accessed on Feb 26, between 1.51pm and 4.30pm at the MCMC Centre of Excellence, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Deputy Public Prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed that bail be set at RM15,000 with one surety. The accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower amount, citing the absence of a fixed income. Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman set bail at RM10,000, with case mention fixed for July 18. – Bernama Drug syndicate using rented cars busted SEPANG: Police have uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate’s tactic of using rented cars, following the arrest of four individuals in the district on Wednesday. Sepang police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said a married couple and two men, aged between 27 and 39, were arrested in the operation that began at 6pm. He said in the operation, police seized various types of drugs, comprising 515g of syabu , 14g of ketamine, 65g of heroin and 300 Eramin 5 pills, valued at RM36,500, as well as two rented cars, believed to be used by the syndicate to carry out drug trafficking activities. “All the suspects are believed to have been active in drug trafficking since 2016, and they are believed to have been using rented cars to distribute drugs. “They are also believed to have rented hotels as accommodation to avoid their activities being detected by the authorities,” he said yesterday. Norhizam said all the suspects are believed to have received payments of about RM1,600 for each drug delivery to customers. “Initial checks found that of the four suspects, two have records, including for drug-related cases, and all three men tested positive for drugs.” – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Mohd Khalid Ismail (pic) has been appointed as the new Inspector General of Police, replacing Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, effective yesterday. The handover-of-duties ceremony took place at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre, witnessed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil as well as senior police officers. Mohd Khalid, 60, has held various important positions in the Special Branch, including as Pahang Special Branch chief from May 25, 2018 and Bukit Aman Special Branch chief assistant director from Sept 6, 2021. The Royal Malaysian Police also announced the promotion and transfers of eight senior officers, including four state police chiefs, effective July 21. In a statement yesterday, its secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Abdullah said Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan has been appointed director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa has been named Commercial Crime KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. Justice K. Muniandy made the decision after allowing Najib’s application for the DNAA. A DNAA means the accused is temporarily discharged from the charges, but may still be prosecuted for the same offences in the future if the prosecution decides to reinstate them. In his ruling, Judge Muniandy noted that the case against Najib has been pending since 2019 without a single witness being called. He said it has been marked by persistent postponements, indicating that the prosecution is not prepared to proceed. “The prosecution is still not prepared to prosecute the case in the near future as it has yet to procure and gather the necessary documentary proof to be used as evidence against the accused. The prolonged wait for trial has become a drawn-out ordeal for the accused, denying him a timely resolution.” The judge said the charges relate to offences allegedly committed in 2014, and yet, as of 2025, the case has still not proceeded to trial, a delay the court views with concern. “By virtue of these factors, the most appropriate order is for this court to discharge the accused without acquitting him, so that he is not burdened with the charges currently preferred against him. “In fact, there is no prejudice to the prosecution with this discharge, which in common parlance, is referred to as a DNAA, as it may still proceed with the case once it is

o Police also announced promotion and transfers of eight senior officers, including four state police chiefs, effective July 21

of the Telecommunications and Information Systems Division (Technical/Operations) at the Bukit Aman LTD, has been appointed deputy director (Technical/Operations) of the same department, with the rank of acting DCP. Meanwhile, SAC Mohd Rozi Jidin, head of Narcotics (Intelligence/International Liaison) at the Bukit Aman NCID, has been appointed deputy director (Enforcement/Traffic Control/Summons Management) of the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, with the rank of acting DCP. He added that another transfer

Compliance Department director, both at Bukit Aman. Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh has been appointed Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order (Operations/ Movements) deputy director. Kamaruzaman said Bukit Aman Logistics and Technology Department (LTD) deputy director (Technical/Operations) Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Gilberd Philip Layang has been promoted to director of the department, with the rank of acting commissioner. Kamaruzaman added that

involves Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nordin Md Nor, Information Technology officer at the Telecommunications and Information Systems Division (Technical/Operations), Bukit

Investigation Department director, while Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad will assume the role of Integrity and Standards High Court grants Najib DNAA in RM27m SRC case Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Redzuan Abd Hamid, head Aman LTD, who has been appointed head of the same division, with the rank of acting SAC.

Najib leaving the court after the ruling yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction. Najib is currently serving a jail term in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million in the SRC International funds case. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon, which led to the Pardons Board halving his jail term from 12 to six years and reducing the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million on Jan 29, 2024.

Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Muhammad Shafee said Najib welcomed the court’s decision, as it meant fewer charges now hanging over him. “Najib said he can now focus on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad case,” said Muhammad Shafee. Najib was present in court. On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of money laundering by accepting illegal proceeds amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014. The former Pekan MP was

ready to do so.” Last week, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed the court that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had rejected Najib’s representation to drop the charges. However, he requested the court to set longer trial dates to allow time for compiling the voluminous trial documents. In response, Najib’s counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah suggested that the court grant his client a DNAA in the interest of justice, noting that the trial has been repeatedly postponed since 2019, Bernama reported.