Latest news with #146

The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Suspects in RM2.1mil gang robbery plead not guilty
KUALA LUMPUR: Two men pleaded not guilty to a charge of gang robbery involving losses amounting to RM2.1mil last month. Mohd Syaqir Mohd Ami, aged 30, and Nur Mohamed Mahsar Mohamed Nor, aged 34, were jointly charged with two other individuals, who remain at large, for committing a gang robbery against property belonging to a 31-year-old Chinese national, Chen Kexue. The assets include a branded wristwatch worth RM1.2mil, three gold bars weighing 300 grammes, RM100,000 in cash and five mobile phones of various brands, worth an estimated RM2,146,000. The act was allegedly committed at a villa in Bukit Damansara here at 10.10pm on July 21. The charge was framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping if convicted. Deputy public prosecutor Nidzuan Abdul Latif did not offer bail because the offence is non-bailable, Bernama reported. DPP Nidzuan also urged the court to take into account the seriousness of the offence and the significant financial losses involved. 'There is a risk of the accused fleeing because during the arrest, one of them tried to escape. 'However, if the court grants bail, I request that each accused be granted RM60,000, along with additional conditions that they must report to the nearest police station and surrender their passports to the court,' DPP Nidzuan said. Sessions Court judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin granted bail of RM15,000 to each accused, along with additional conditions requested by the prosecution. The court set Sept 30 for mention.

Barnama
5 days ago
- Barnama
Two Friends Accused Of Robbing Chinese National Of RM2.1 Mln
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Two friends pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of gang robbery against property belonging to a female Chinese national, involving losses amounting RM2.1 million, last month. Mohd Syaqir Mohd Ami, 30, and Nur Mohamed Mahsar Mohamed Nor, 34, were jointly charged with two other individuals who are still at large with committing gang robbery against property belonging to Chen Kexue, 31. The assets include a branded wristwatch worth RM1.2 million, three gold bars weighing 300 grammes, RM100,000 in cash, and five mobile phones of various brands, with an estimated loss of RM2,146,000, at a villa in Bukit Damansara here, at 10.10 pm on July 21. The charge was brought under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and whipping, if convicted. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nidzuan Abdul Latif did not offer bail because the offence is non-bailable, and also requested the court to consider the offence serious, involving high losses. 'If the court grants bail, there is a risk of the accused fleeing because during the arrest, one of the accused tried to escape. "However, if the court grants bail, I request that each accused be granted bail of RM60,000 along with the additional condition that they must report to the nearest police station and surrender their passports to the court," he said. Lawyer Hazwan Hassan, representing the two men, requested the court to grant his clients bail between RM10,000 and RM15,000 with certain additional conditions, as bail is only to ensure the accused's attendance in court. Mohd Syaqir works as a salesman and earns RM2,000 per month. He supports his mother, who has stage four cancer, and he just recovered from paralysis after being involved in an accident in August last year.


New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Two salesmen claim trial to robbing woman of RM2.1 million
KUALA LUMPUR: Two salesmen claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to a joint charge of robbing a woman from China of valuables worth over RM2.1 million, including a luxury watch, gold bars and cash, last month. Mohd Syaqir Mohd Ami, 30, and Nur Mohamed Mahsar Mohamed Nor, 34, who stood in the dock together with their heads bowed during proceedings, entered their plea before judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin. They were accused of robbing 31-year-old housewife, Chen Kexue, with two others at large, of a white Richard Mille watch worth RM1.2 million, three gold bars weighing 300 grammes, RM100,000 in cash and five handphones, all valued at RM2,146,000. The alleged offence occurred at 10.10pm at a house in Bukit Damansara on July 21. The charge under Section 395 of the Penal Code carries a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction. Earlier, the duo were escorted into the court complex by investigators from the Brickfields police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Department's Special Investigation Division. While waiting for proceedings to begin, the duo seated in the dock were seen chatting with family members who sat directly behind them in the public gallery. Deputy public prosecutor Nidzuan Abdul Latif did not offer bail as the offence was non-bailable. He emphasised the severity of the offence, which provides a jail term of above 10 years, and considering the case's exorbitant losses. "They had allegedly committed the offence with two others who are still at large, and they cannot be located yet. "There is a risk of the accused absconding if the court grants bail. One of the accused, Mahsar, had tried to flee to evade arrest," he said. The prosecutor said if the court wanted to use its discretion to allow bail, it should be set at RM60,000 and above, with one surety for each accused. He also suggested additional conditions, including the accused surrendering their passports to the court and to report to the police station monthly. "The prosecution stands by our stance that no bail should be given," he said. Defence lawyer Hazwan Hassan urged the court to consider a bail of between RM10,000 and RM15,000 for each accused with additional conditions. He said the accused pledged to attend each court proceeding and were not deemed as flight risks. He said Syaqir, who earns RM2,000 monthly, was engaged to be married at the end of this year. "He has just recovered from an accident in August last year, which left him paralysed. He is still undergoing rehabilitation for back and leg issues. He is also supporting his cancer-stricken mother," he said. As for Mahsar, Hazwan said he was a father of two, also earning RM2,000 a month, was supporting his family and aged mother and had anterior cruciate ligament injury. "The case of Mahsar attempting to flee is isolated. He was hauled to court today to face the charge. He is not a flight risk," he said. Hazwan said the prosecution's proposed bail sum was huge for his clients and was akin to punishment. After hearing both parties, Shakirah allowed bail at RM15,000 with one surety for each accused. She also ordered them to surrender their passports to the court and report to the police station monthly. She also set Sept 30 for mention.


New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
SD Guthrie posts 71pct higher net profit to RM1.07bil in first six months
KUALA LUMPUR: SD Guthrie Bhd posted a 71 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit to RM1.07 billion for the first half of 2025, up from RM626 million in the same period last year. Group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said the strong performance was largely driven by its upstream operations, which saw profits more than double, supported by higher crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK) prices. CPO prices rose three per cent YoY to RM4,146 per tonne, while PK prices surged 50 per cent to RM3,247 per tonne, he said at a press conference on SD Guthrie's latest interim results here today. The group's fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production increased by four per cent across all segments. Helmy said CPO prices are expected to remain around RM4,000 per tonne for the rest of the year. For the second quarter ended June 30 2025 (Q2FY2025), chief financial officer Renaka Ramachandran reported a 22 per cent increase in net profit to RM505 million, compared to RM415 million in the same quarter last year. The group's revenue for the quarter rose 4.11 per cent to RM5.17 billion from RM4.97 billion previously. Its upstream operations continued to benefit from the favourable commodity prices and improved output, which underpinned the strong quarterly and half-yearly performance. For the downstream segment, SD Guthrie International (SDGI) saw a 44 per cent drop in profit before interest and tax (PBIT) to RM126 million in Q2FY2025, from RM225 million a year earlier and the segment was impacted by weaker demand and tighter margins across Asia Pacific and Europe. However, SDGI's Oceania operations delivered encouraging results, with higher sales volumes and margins contributing to commendable operating profits. The group advanced its industrial development efforts, including a strategic partnership with Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd to co-develop a food security and edu-tech hub on Carey Island. SD Guthrie expects palm oil prices to remain volatile as the industry enters its peak output cycle amid ongoing global uncertainties. Nevertheless, the group said improved weather conditions, better operating performance and continued progress in new business pillars are expected to support its growth trajectory. Helmy said by 2030, its two emerging business pillars namely industrial development and renewable energy (currently focused primarily on solar) are expected to contribute between RM700 million and RM800 million to its bottom line. This will represent close to 30 per cent of the group's overall earnings.


The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
SD Guthrie posts earnings jump in 1H to RM1.07bil
SD Guthrie group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha KUALA LUMPUR: The crude palm oil (CPO) price is expected to remain volatile in the second half of the year amid the ongoing volatility of the global economic and operating environment, said SD Guthrie Bhd in its outlook for the remainder of the year The group, formerly known as Sime Darby Plantations, said the industry is entering its peak output cycle, supported by improved weather conditions, softer biodiesel demand amidst the low crude oil price environment, and the ongoing global macroeconomic uncertainty. "Whilst the price discount of palm oil relative to other vegetable oils is likely to support stronger demand from key markets, persistent macroeconomic headwinds, coupled with uncertainties in the global trade environment following the US' revised tariff measures, are adding further volatility to the overall operating environment," it said in a statement. The group anticipates its fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production to improve in the second half of the year, supported by better operating conditions as well as productivity enhancement efforts across our operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. In the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, SD Guthrie posted a net profit of RM505mil, up from RM415mil in the year-ago quarter, which translates to a higher earnings per share of 7.3 sen against six sen previously. The group reported revenue of RM5.17bil compared to RM4.97bil in 2QFY24. Over the six-month period, net profit came to RM1.07bil against RM626mil in 1HFY24, while revenue rose to RM9.99bil from RM9.31bil in the year-ago period. 'The group's performance in this period bears testament to our robust strategy and disciplined execution, as we continue to prioritise operational excellence. Even as our core business segments regain momentum, the new and expanded strategic focus to pursue broader growth initiatives is starting to take shape," said group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha. The group declared an interim dividend of 7.75 sen per share, with ex-date on Oct 16, 2025, and payable on Oct 31, 2025. SD Guthrie noted an impressive performance its upstream segment in 1H25, as it benefited from higher year-on-year average realised CPO and palm kernel (PK) prices - up 3% and 50% y-o-y to RM4,146 and RM3,247 per tonne respectively. The group's fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production was higher across segments for a 4% increase overall. However, SD Guthrie's downstream segment registered a 44% y-o-y slump in pre-tax profit in 2QFY25 to RM126mil amid a challenging business landscape. The group said operations across Asia Pacific and Europe were impacted by lower demand and tighter margins. However, encouraging performance was achieved in Oceania which recorded commendable operating profits with higher sales volumes and margins.