South Korea special prosecutor seeks detention warrant for ex-first lady
Kim and ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol are being investigated by two separate special prosecutors appointed after the former leader was ousted in April over his brief declaration of martial law.
Kim appeared for questioning on Wednesday at the office of the special prosecutor on charges that include stock fraud, bribery and illegal influence peddling. She apologised for causing concern but did not answer questions from reporters about the allegations against her.
The special prosecutor did not immediately provide more details about its warrant request.
Kim's lawyers have denied the allegations against her.
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CNA
a minute ago
- CNA
Court orders granted against immigration consultancy firms, their operator over misleading practices
SINGAPORE: The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has obtained court orders against two immigration consultancy firms and their operator for engaging in unfair trade practices. VED Immigrations and SAVA Immigrations, as well as a third firm, Paul Immigrations, were found to have misled consumers into believing that there was an urgent need to apply for Singapore permanent residency (PR), and that the firms could guarantee the success of applications made through them. In a media release on Monday (Aug 11), CCCS said that the "mastermind" behind the firms' trade practices was one Mr Cheng Yong Teck. Investigations into the firms began after the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received several complaints regarding Paul Immigrations' sales tactics. CASE continued to receive complaints against the firm even after it signed an agreement to stop the misleading practices. After CCCS found that Mr Cheng had ceased Paul Immigrations' operations but resumed similar practices through VED Immigrations, the focus of its investigations shifted to the latter firm. Then, investigations found that Mr Cheng was also operating through another business, SAVA Immigrations. All three immigration consultancy firms' websites included forms that allowed potential customers to check their chances of obtaining permanent residency. According to CCCS, instead of receiving results online after filling out the forms, these individuals would receive phone calls inviting them for "free consultations". "During these consultation sessions, sales staff would make unsubstantiated claims about rapidly changing PR rules and intense competition from other applicants, to try to persuade customers to apply as soon as possible," said Singapore's consumer watchdog. "The sales staff would then make baseless guarantees of PR application approval if customers engaged their services. "CCCS found no reasonable basis for the businesses to make such claims or guarantees, except to close the deals." Customers paid up to S$10,000 (US$7,790) for such services. Investigations revealed that Mr Cheng was responsible for directing the operations of these businesses and was deliberate in implementing the misleading trade practices. When Paul Immigrations was investigated, Mr Cheng continued to operate through the other businesses to evade detection. CCCS said: "Cheng personally wrote scripts on what staff members needed to do and say to prospective customers, monitored their sales tactics through closed-circuit television footage and implemented a punishment-and-reward system to ensure that his staff members followed his methods." A district court on Jul 22 ordered Mr Cheng, VED Immigrations and SAVA Immigrations to cease the unfair trade practices; publish details of the court orders on online platforms used for marketing their services and in major newspapers in Singapore; inform all potential customers about the court orders before entering into contracts with them; and notify CCCS about any changes to their business structures, as well as to Mr Cheng's employment status and his control or ownership of his businesses. CCCS said that this is its first court action against a person who used new business entities to conceal unfair trade practices. Its chief executive Alvin Koh said that consumers' insecurities and unfamiliarity with Singapore's immigration system were exploited by the three firms, misleading them into paying substantial sums of money. "The mastermind attempted to evade detection by closing the initial business while continuing the same practices through other businesses,' said Mr Koh.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Myanmar ethnic group vows to block elections in its enclave
YANGON: One of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic groups pledged on Monday (Aug 11) to block elections in areas it controls, rejecting polls the military junta has touted as a way of ending the nation's civil war. The Arakan Army (AA) has emerged as a key challenger to Myanmar's ruling generals since a 2021 military coup sparked war and today controls nearly all of western Rakhine state. In addition to the AA, the military is battling an array of other ethnic armies that have long resisted central rule and have been joined on the frontlines by new pro-democracy guerrilla units. Late last month, the junta ended the nationwide state of emergency declared during the coup and said it would hold a general election in December. Opposition groups including democratic lawmakers ousted in the coup are boycotting the vote, while a UN expert has branded it a "fraud" designed to legitimise the junta's continuing rule. Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesman for the AA, said the election would be blocked from areas of Rakhine controlled by the group – 14 out of the state's 17 townships, according to conflict monitors. "An election without public support will not benefit the people and will only create more confusion for the people," said Khaing Thu Kha at a livestreamed news conference. "The election may be able to be held in the area controlled by the military council, but it will not be allowed in areas controlled by us," he added. "It is certain that the Rakhine people are not interested in the elections." The junta estimates Rakhine – which borders Bangladesh – is home to around 2.5 million out of Myanmar's 51 million population. The AA initially had a truce with the junta but ended it in late 2023, joining other ethnic armies in a combined offensive, which inflicted stinging territorial losses nationwide. The military has responded with a withering campaign of air strikes and a de facto blockade cutting off access between the coastal state and the rest of the country. Around 560,000 people are currently living displaced in Rakhine, according to UN figures.
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Police arrest man who tried to hack into RedeemSG to access vouchers
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