Murder, cover-up charges for alleged drug deal stabbing

Police have arrested a man they say helped try to cover up an alleged drug-related murder, in an "awful" attack on a suburban street.
Officers found the victim, a man believed to be a Malaysian national aged 29, stabbed to death about 5pm on Monday at a home in Croydon Park, in Sydney's inner west.
Mohammad Sofwan Bin Mustafha, 32, has since been charged with murder and refused bail at Burwood Local Court.
Authorities then charged a second man on Tuesday night after he turned himself in at Burwood police station.
The 36-year-old man, who will face Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said the man was previously known to police and was on bail at the time of the alleged offending.
But she would not reveal the police's case as to how he had allegedly tried to conceal the murder.
"We are confident that he was at the scene at the time of the murder," she said.
"How the victim came to be at that location is still part of our inquiries but certainly we believe drugs were involved."
Supt McDonald did not detail why police believed the incident had stemmed from a drug deal.
The victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, with police initially estimating the man as aged in his 50s before they learned he was 29.
Police have spoken to the victim's family in Malaysia.
"All three men have wives and children," Supt McDonald said.
"We say so often that drugs ruin lives and families, and this is yet another example of wives and children getting caught up in an awful crime."
Bin Mustafha did not apply for bail when he faced court on Tuesday and will return to court on July 30.
Police have arrested a man they say helped try to cover up an alleged drug-related murder, in an "awful" attack on a suburban street.
Officers found the victim, a man believed to be a Malaysian national aged 29, stabbed to death about 5pm on Monday at a home in Croydon Park, in Sydney's inner west.
Mohammad Sofwan Bin Mustafha, 32, has since been charged with murder and refused bail at Burwood Local Court.
Authorities then charged a second man on Tuesday night after he turned himself in at Burwood police station.
The 36-year-old man, who will face Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said the man was previously known to police and was on bail at the time of the alleged offending.
But she would not reveal the police's case as to how he had allegedly tried to conceal the murder.
"We are confident that he was at the scene at the time of the murder," she said.
"How the victim came to be at that location is still part of our inquiries but certainly we believe drugs were involved."
Supt McDonald did not detail why police believed the incident had stemmed from a drug deal.
The victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, with police initially estimating the man as aged in his 50s before they learned he was 29.
Police have spoken to the victim's family in Malaysia.
"All three men have wives and children," Supt McDonald said.
"We say so often that drugs ruin lives and families, and this is yet another example of wives and children getting caught up in an awful crime."
Bin Mustafha did not apply for bail when he faced court on Tuesday and will return to court on July 30.
Police have arrested a man they say helped try to cover up an alleged drug-related murder, in an "awful" attack on a suburban street.
Officers found the victim, a man believed to be a Malaysian national aged 29, stabbed to death about 5pm on Monday at a home in Croydon Park, in Sydney's inner west.
Mohammad Sofwan Bin Mustafha, 32, has since been charged with murder and refused bail at Burwood Local Court.
Authorities then charged a second man on Tuesday night after he turned himself in at Burwood police station.
The 36-year-old man, who will face Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said the man was previously known to police and was on bail at the time of the alleged offending.
But she would not reveal the police's case as to how he had allegedly tried to conceal the murder.
"We are confident that he was at the scene at the time of the murder," she said.
"How the victim came to be at that location is still part of our inquiries but certainly we believe drugs were involved."
Supt McDonald did not detail why police believed the incident had stemmed from a drug deal.
The victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, with police initially estimating the man as aged in his 50s before they learned he was 29.
Police have spoken to the victim's family in Malaysia.
"All three men have wives and children," Supt McDonald said.
"We say so often that drugs ruin lives and families, and this is yet another example of wives and children getting caught up in an awful crime."
Bin Mustafha did not apply for bail when he faced court on Tuesday and will return to court on July 30.
Police have arrested a man they say helped try to cover up an alleged drug-related murder, in an "awful" attack on a suburban street.
Officers found the victim, a man believed to be a Malaysian national aged 29, stabbed to death about 5pm on Monday at a home in Croydon Park, in Sydney's inner west.
Mohammad Sofwan Bin Mustafha, 32, has since been charged with murder and refused bail at Burwood Local Court.
Authorities then charged a second man on Tuesday night after he turned himself in at Burwood police station.
The 36-year-old man, who will face Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said the man was previously known to police and was on bail at the time of the alleged offending.
But she would not reveal the police's case as to how he had allegedly tried to conceal the murder.
"We are confident that he was at the scene at the time of the murder," she said.
"How the victim came to be at that location is still part of our inquiries but certainly we believe drugs were involved."
Supt McDonald did not detail why police believed the incident had stemmed from a drug deal.
The victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, with police initially estimating the man as aged in his 50s before they learned he was 29.
Police have spoken to the victim's family in Malaysia.
"All three men have wives and children," Supt McDonald said.
"We say so often that drugs ruin lives and families, and this is yet another example of wives and children getting caught up in an awful crime."
Bin Mustafha did not apply for bail when he faced court on Tuesday and will return to court on July 30.

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Thailand, Cambodia reinforce troops on disputed border

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Thailand, Cambodia reinforce troops on disputed border

Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defence minister says. Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have been simmering since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief skirmish in an un-demarcated border area. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have been exchanging carefully worded statements committing to dialogue. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the Thai army's announcement. "This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a speech on Saturday. "Our guiding principles are ... respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty," he said, adding that its armed forces were ready to defend against aggression. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes across several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday it was ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to co-operate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defence minister says. Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have been simmering since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief skirmish in an un-demarcated border area. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have been exchanging carefully worded statements committing to dialogue. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the Thai army's announcement. "This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a speech on Saturday. "Our guiding principles are ... respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty," he said, adding that its armed forces were ready to defend against aggression. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes across several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday it was ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to co-operate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defence minister says. Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have been simmering since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief skirmish in an un-demarcated border area. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have been exchanging carefully worded statements committing to dialogue. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the Thai army's announcement. "This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a speech on Saturday. "Our guiding principles are ... respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty," he said, adding that its armed forces were ready to defend against aggression. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes across several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday it was ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to co-operate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defence minister says. Tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries have been simmering since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief skirmish in an un-demarcated border area. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have been exchanging carefully worded statements committing to dialogue. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the Thai army's announcement. "This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a speech on Saturday. "Our guiding principles are ... respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty," he said, adding that its armed forces were ready to defend against aggression. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes across several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday it was ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to co-operate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations.