logo
MACC records statements from 24 over KLIA hazardous cargo case

MACC records statements from 24 over KLIA hazardous cargo case

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recorded statements from 24 individuals in connection with the smuggling of hazardous goods through cargo operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), believed to involve elements of corruption.
A source said those called in for questioning include employees from three companies, as well as officers and staff from three enforcement agencies operating at KLIA.
"The investigation was launched due to the importation of hazardous goods that did not follow standard operating procedures (SOP), exposing the KLIA area to potential security threats.
"Initial investigations revealed that these hazardous goods, which consist of chemicals, were declared as household or accessory products," the source said.
Meanwhile, MACC's intelligence division senior director Datuk Idris Zaharudin, when contacted, said the commission is currently identifying governance weaknesses that allowed such goods to be brought in with ease.
He said the commission's governance investigation division has also opened an investigation paper to examine aspects of administrative, management, and enforcement weaknesses.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Beng Hock's family not filing judicial review over NFA decision
Beng Hock's family not filing judicial review over NFA decision

Free Malaysia Today

time3 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Beng Hock's family not filing judicial review over NFA decision

Teoh Beng Hock's sister, Lee Lan, during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today. KUALA LUMPUR : The family of Teoh Beng Hock has decided not to pursue a judicial review of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) decision to once again classify his death as requiring no further action (NFA). His sister, Lee Lan, said the decision was made after consulting family members and their lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh. 'The judicial review will take three years to complete. Chances of winning the review are also slim as it would be the first judicial review brought in a criminal case,' she told a press conference at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here today. Last week, the AGC said it found insufficient evidence to bring charges following a fresh investigation by police, thus maintaining its NFA classification. The re-investigation had been ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in November last year, which directed police to re-examine all aspects of the case. Lee Lan had expressed disappointment over the outcome and called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to honour his promise to deliver justice in her brother's case. Beng Hock was found dead on July 16, 2009 after falling from the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, Selangor, after being questioned for several hours by officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). An inquest into his death initially returned an open verdict. However, in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that Beng Hock's death was caused by 'one or more unknown persons', including MACC officers. Meanwhile, Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement chairman Ng Yap Hwa raised concerns over the selective presentation of the Court of Appeal's judgment in AG Dusuki Mokhtar's letter. 'His letter stated that the Court of Appeal in 2014, ruled that an unknown person caused Beng Hock's death through unlawful means. 'However, the actual judgment is that one or more unknown persons, including MACC officers, caused his death through unlawful means,' he said at the same press conference. Ng called for Dusuki to clarify why the reference to MACC officers was not included in the official explanation. He also questioned whether this omission indicated that the AGC and police had excluded MACC personnel from the scope of their investigations. Lee Lan again appealed to Cabinet ministers, especially those from DAP, to help her family uncover the truth behind her brother's death. 'When the current ministers were in the opposition bloc, they told us they had no power to help the case. Now that they are in power, they are unable to keep their promises,' she added.

AG can still order police probe into Beng Hock's death, says lawyer
AG can still order police probe into Beng Hock's death, says lawyer

Free Malaysia Today

time8 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

AG can still order police probe into Beng Hock's death, says lawyer

Teoh Beng Hock died on July 16, 2009 after being questioned for hours by MACC officers. PETALING JAYA : The attorney-general (AG) can still direct that the police investigate who was responsible for the death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock under a more serious offence based on a Court of Appeal ruling issued 11 years ago, a lawyer said today. Salim Bashir said investigations could be conducted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing death by negligence, or voluntarily causing grievous hurt. 'The Court of Appeal in 2014 found that Teoh's death was accelerated by the 'unlawful acts of persons unknown' and that the AG could direct the police to conduct further investigations,' he told FMT. He said there is no limitation period within which charges must be brought against a suspect. However, the prosecution must ensure that it is able to call the necessary witnesses and present the required evidence in court to support the charge, he added. Salim was speaking to FMT after two senior DAP leaders called for AG Dusuki Mokhtar to explain in detail why he thinks there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for criminal offences which may have resulted in Teoh's death. Speaking on behalf of the party's central committee, its national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Loke Siew Fook called on the AG to review his decision and push ahead with charges against those responsible without further delay. FMT has contacted Dusuki, who is also the public prosecutor, for his response. Salim, a former Malaysian Bar president, said the AG under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code had the discretion whether to prosecute a suspect, and which provision of the law to utilise. Last week, lawyer-activist M Visvanathan told a gathering in solidarity with Teoh's family that three doctors had during an inquiry said that the deceased had injuries to his neck, which occurred before he fell from the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam. 'These injuries would have been capable of making Teoh immobile or unconscious,' he said when contacted, adding that a judge in the Court of Appeal bench stated that there was no necessity to 'engage Sherlock Holmes to investigate because the circumstances are so credible'. Visvanathan said it was absurd for police to confine their recent investigation to wrongful confinement under Section 342 of the Penal Code as Teoh had been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for lawful investigations. Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali called for the AG to issue a press conference instead of a letter to Teoh's family explaining why he had classified the case as requiring no further action (NFA). 'As the guardian of public interest, the AG should be transparent and accountable as this is a high-profile public interest case, and there needs to be closure to the family's predicament,' he said. Rafique said that in October 1994, then AG Mohtar Abdullah announced through the media that he was not pressing charges against an influential political leader as he had no prima facie evidence to pursue a charge of raping an underaged girl. However, Mohtar said he was not exonerating the suspect of the alleged offence. He said another AG, Apandi Ali, had in January 2016 told the media that then prime minister Najib Razak had been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion channelled into Najib's bank accounts and finance ministry-owned firm SRC International Sdn Bhd. Apandi said there was 'insufficient evidence' to implicate Najib and ordered MACC to close its three investigation papers. However, in 2018, Najib was charged with corruption in the SRC International and 1MDB case. Teoh died on July 16, 2009 after being questioned for hours by MACC officers. An inquest was held and the coroner returned an open verdict. However, the Court of Appeal ruled that Teoh's death was caused by 'one or more persons unknown', including MACC officers. In 2019, police launched an investigation under Section 342 of the Penal Code for wrongful confinement. In November last year, the High Court ordered the police to complete its long-delayed investigations within six months. Before 2018, two special investigation teams were set up – one in 2011 and the other in 2015 – to look into Teoh's death. Both cases were classified as NFA by the public prosecutor.

NFA in Teoh Beng Hock case: DAP seeks clarification from A-G
NFA in Teoh Beng Hock case: DAP seeks clarification from A-G

New Straits Times

timea day ago

  • New Straits Times

NFA in Teoh Beng Hock case: DAP seeks clarification from A-G

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has called on Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to provide a detailed explanation for his decision not to pursue criminal charges in the case involving the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock. In a joint statement issued by DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the party expressed disappointment over the Attorney-General's decision to classify the case as "no further action" (NFA), despite previous court rulings that pointed to foul play. "The Attorney-General must explain why he believes there is insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for Teoh Beng Hock's death, especially in light of the findings of the Court of Appeal and civil proceedings," the statement read. According to DAP, the case was referred to the Attorney-General by police on May 21 and was subsequently classified as NFA. A letter dated May 30 was later sent to the family's legal representatives, stating that the investigations did not uncover sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. Teoh, who was a political aide to a Selangor state executive councillor, died in 2009 while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "DAP has been consistently calling for accountability in the case. "The party previously assembled a legal team that initiated an inquest into Teoh's death, which revealed bruising on his neck. "However, the 2011 Coroner's Court returned an open verdict." Subsequent legal challenges saw the Court of Appeal overturn the Coroner's decision, concluding in 2014 that Teoh's death resulted from "an unlawful act or acts of persons unknown, inclusive of MACC officers who were involved in the arrest and investigation." In a related civil suit, the government and MACC admitted liability for negligence, resulting in a RM600,000 settlement to Teoh's family, along with RM60,000 in costs. "These court decisions form a solid basis for further investigation to identify those responsible for Teoh Beng Hock's death. "Whilst the duty to investigate the case and to identify those responsible lies with the police, it is for the Attorney-General to decide his next step based on that investigation," the statement added. The party also voiced its support for the family's reported move to challenge the NFA decision via a judicial review. "We call upon the Attorney-General to reconsider his decision and move forward with pressing charges against those responsible, without further delay."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store