Tourist extortion: Tiong calls for tougher punishment on rogue cops
When contacted, Tiong said it was unacceptable for the officers involved to only be transferred to other departments, as such disciplinary action was inadequate and unable to convince the public.
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New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Taiwan denies President Lai blocked from US stopover
TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has not been blocked from visiting the United States, Taipei's foreign ministry said Tuesday, insisting he has no plans to travel overseas "in the near future." The remarks came after US President Donald Trump's administration reportedly denied permission for Lai to transit in New York as part of an official trip to Latin America next month. Lai's office had never confirmed his travel plans, but Paraguay, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America, said in mid-July that Lai would visit the country in 30 days. Such a visit would likely mean Lai would need to fly through US territory. "There has been no postponement, cancellation, nor any denial of permission for the transit by the US side," spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei told reporters in Taipei. "Given the ongoing post-disaster recovery efforts in southern Taiwan, the ongoing reciprocal tariff negotiations with the US, and the relevant international situation, the president has no plans for overseas visits in the near future." In Washington, asked about the report, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told a media briefing that there had been no travel plans presented for Taiwan's president and therefore "nothing canceled." She reiterated Washington's policy that "transits by high-level Taiwan officials, including presidents, are fully consistent with our long-standing policy and practice. This has not changed." The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, reported Tuesday that the Trump administration had denied permission for a Lai stopover in New York, after Beijing objected. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any international exchanges with the democratic island. Asked about the reports on Tuesday, Beijing's foreign ministry reiterated its opposition to Taiwan's leaders visiting the United States. "This position is consistent, clear, and firm," spokesman Guo Jiakun said. The Financial Times said Lai decided not to travel after he was told he couldn't enter New York. Chinese and US officials held trade talks Tuesday in Stockholm, in a bid to extend a fragile truce in the face of Trump's global tariff war. While the United States does not recognise Taiwan as a country, Washington remains the island's most important partner and biggest arms supplier. Commenting on the Financial Times article, the former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the decision "sends a dangerous signal." "But once again, (Chinese) President Xi has achieved a victory over the values, security and economy of the United States in the Trump Administration blocking the democratically elected president of Taiwan from making a diplomatic trip through New York," Pelosi wrote on Facebook. "Let us hope President Trump's denial of this stopover in New York is not indicative of a dangerous change in US policy on Taiwan." Lai had originally planned stopovers in New York and Dallas as part of the trip to Paraguay and Central American allies Guatemala and Belize next month, Bloomberg News previously reported. They are among Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic allies. --AFP
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Dead model's mum gets RM1.1mil
KUALA LUMPUR: The mother of Dutch model Ivana Smit (pic) has been awarded RM1.1mil in damages by the High Court over the mishandling of the investigation into her daughter's death, while the police have been ordered to recommence their probe into the case. In her findings, Justice Roz Mawar Rozain said there were breaches of statutory duty by the defendants, holding them liable to varying degrees of responsibility for the failures in the investigation. 'This case represents a profound failure of Malaysia's law enforcement system,' she said in her judgment yesterday. The court noted multiple lapses, including premature classification, crime scene management errors, failure to preserve evidence, inadequate handling of witnesses and suspects, neglect of foreign evidence and the dismissal of expert testimony. 'These are simple and clear elements that support my finding of breaches in the duty of care,' she added. Smit, 18, was found dead on the sixth floor of CapSquare Residence on Dec 7, 2017, after falling from the 20th floor of a condominium unit owned by an American couple, Alex Johnson and Luna Almazkyzy. On Nov 20, 2020, Smit's mother, Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen, filed a civil suit against the Inspector-General of Police, Dang Wangi investigating officer Asst Supt Faizal Abdullah, the Home Minister and the government, alleging negligence in handling the investigation. Justice Roz Mawar found that ASP Faizal had committed multiple breaches of duty during the investigation. The court was presented with evidence that Johnson's DNA was found under Smit's fingernails in a DNA report dated Feb 8, 2018. Despite this, both Johnson and Almazkyzy were allowed to leave Malaysia on March 29, 2018. Justice Roz Mawar said ASP Faizal had arbitrarily classified the case as a suicide on the very day the investigation began as a suspected homicide. Despite a 2019 High Court order to reopen the case, ASP Faizal was retained as the investigating officer in the special task force that was formed. 'The same compromised officer was retained. Ineffective measures were taken. 'Though the case continued, the defendants failed to present any evidence supporting their continued investigative methods,' she said, noting that the case had made no significant progress since 2019. This, she said, constituted non-compliance with the High Court order issued in November 2019. 'The 2019 High Court order was clear and unambiguous. It directed that the case be reclassified as a death caused by a person or persons unknown and compelled the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to instruct the police to reopen the investigation as a murder case,' she said. Justice Roz Mawar described Verstappen as a 'direct victim' who had endured prolonged emotional and psychological trauma due to the defendants' negligence. The court awarded the plaintiff RM500,000 in general damages for emotional distress, mental anguish and loss of closure; RM300,000 in aggravated damages for the defendants' high-handed and oppressive conduct; and RM300,000 in exemplary damages to punish gross misconduct in public office and deter future breaches. Interest on the judgment sum was set at 5% per annum from the date of the judgment until full settlement, with the court also ordering the defendants to pay RM100,000 in costs to the plaintiff. A mandamus order was issued as well, requiring the police to reopen the investigation into Smit's death. The judge also instructed the IGP, named as the first defendant, to remove ASP Faizal from the current task force. 'The police are directed to brief the AGC every three months from the date of this judgment on the progress of the investigation. 'The AGC is to evaluate the sufficiency of evidence and determine the next steps,' she added. Justice Roz Mawar said while the case highlighted significant investigative failures, her findings should not be viewed as a criticism of the police force. She said the evidence pointed to multiple departures from accepted investigative standards, which resulted in a denial of justice to the plaintiff. The findings, she said, should be treated as identification of areas needing correction. In November 2019, the High Court overturned a coroner's ruling that classified Smit's death as a 'misadventure'. Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now a Court of Appeal judge) had allowed the family's application to review the ruling in March that year. In his findings, Justice Sequerah concluded that Smit's death was caused by 'persons known or unknown' and said there had been insufficient investigation into the possibility of homicide.
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Post-mortem confirms six-year-old Johor boy buried in Jempol strangled with cable tie; police recover hoe used to dig grave
REMBAU, July 29 — Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof confirmed that a six-year-old boy whose body was discovered buried in a remote area in Rompin, Jempol, was killed by strangulation with a cable tie, following a post-mortem at Rembau Hospital. 'The autopsy revealed the boy died due to pressure from a cable tie around his neck,' he said when contacted by Bernama today, adding that the case is now being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. The investigation first began under Johor police jurisdiction, classified under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 323/18 of the Domestic Violence Act and Missing Persons procedures. Ahmad Dzaffir said the suspect is still in remand in Johor, but will be brought to Jempol for further questioning in the coming days. 'We will also be recording statements from witnesses, particularly the victim's mother,' he added. Meanwhile, Jempol police chief Supt Norhisham Mustapar said a hoe, believed to have been used by the suspect to dig the boy's grave, was recovered from a secluded area near Jalan Bahau-Rompin. Police had discovered the victim's body around 4.30 pm yesterday, after a tip-off led them to the burial site. Earlier, Iskandar Puteri police chief ACP M Kumarasan confirmed that a man had been remanded for seven days from July 25 to assist with the murder investigation. The suspect lodged a police report in Bukit Indah on July 24, claiming the boy had gone missing. Kumarasan said the man first told police the child had disappeared around 4 pm on July 23 after being left alone in a car while the suspect went out to buy food. The case was initially classified under Section 182 of the Penal Code for lodging a false report. — Bernama
