Latest news with #238
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Ganja resembling belacan, chocolate, and keropok lekor seized
KANGAR: Belacan, chocolate bars and keropok lekor — these familiar favourites turned out to be a cover for a pungent plot here. The drugs, valued at RM9,238, were found in the possession of a 21-year-old Thai national who was arrested while attempting to board the Electric Train Service (ETS) heading south from Bukit Keteri Railway Station. Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said the incident took place at Bukit Keteri railway station after police received information regarding a Thai man carrying cannabis who was planning to board the ETS. "Based on the information received, our personnel from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Perlis police contingent headquarters went to the station and successfully identified the 21-year-old suspect. "The man was believed to be waiting for the ETS heading south, and upon inspecting the backpack he was carrying, we found 27 plastic packets containing green plant material suspected to be cannabis, weighing 2.98 kilogrammes and valued at RM9,238," he said. Muhammad said preliminary investigations revealed the suspect was paid more than RM1,000 by the syndicate to deliver the cannabis via the ETS. "The cannabis was shaped and packaged to resemble shrimp paste, chocolate bars, and raw 'keropok lekor' in an attempt to fool the authorities during inspections. "The supply is believed to have been sourced from a neighbouring country, with Perlis used as a transit point before being distributed or sold in southern states. "The suspect's modus operandi involved delivering drug supplies from Thailand into the country on demand, for a fee of RM1,500," he said. Following this, police arrested another suspect, a 25-year-old local man in Alor Setar, who is also believed to be involved in the drug distribution syndicate. "Initial drug screening on the main suspect found him positive for methamphetamine. A background check revealed he has four prior criminal records related to drug offences. "The total amount of drugs seized in this case could serve approximately 29,870 drug addicts," he said. Muhammad said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The suspect has been remanded for seven days until this Thursday to assist with investigations.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill revives effort to criminalize non-consensual STD exposure in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced a bill that would create new crimes for knowingly and intentionally exposing someone to a sexually transmitted disease without their informed consent. House Bill 76, sponsored by state Rep. Patricia Moore (D-Monroe), would establish two separate offenses: felony intentional exposure for incurable STDs and misdemeanor intentional exposure for curable ones. Under the bill, a person could face felony charges if they knowingly have an incurable STD and intentionally expose someone without that person's knowledge or informed consent through: Sexual intercourse or sodomy. Selling/donating blood, semen, organs, etc. Sharing needles. The proposed bill said the standard penalty includes up to 10 years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine. There would be harsher penalties if: The victim is under 13 and the offender is 17 or older: 25–99 years in prison, with at least 25 years served without parole. The victim is under 18 with an age gap of over two years: 10–25 years, with at least 10 served without parole. The victim is 65 or older: Up to 25 years The offender has an intellectual disability: Up to 15 years' sentence and up to a $10,000 fine Louisiana bill would allow abortion exceptions for minors in sex crime cases Anyone convicted would also be placed on lifetime electronic monitoring. Offenders must cover the cost of their monitoring unless deemed unable to pay, in which case the state may cover the expense. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections would be tasked with setting the payment rules. The bill includes affirmative defenses: If the exposed person knew the offender's status, knew the risks, and gave informed consent. If the offender disclosed their status and took preventative measures advised by a healthcare provider. The bill also creates a misdemeanor offense for knowingly exposing someone to a curable STD without informed consent through the same methods listed above. The penalty would be up to six months in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine. The bill's current status is pending before the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. Rep. Moore filed similar legislation in 2021 (House Bill 238), which expanded an existing criminal statute that previously applied only to HIV exposure. The earlier bill drew criticism from some public health experts and LGBTQ advocates, according to a report from the Louisiana Illuminator. Opponents argued that the bill could discourage people from getting tested for STDs, since the enforcement hinges on the offender knowing their status. Groups like the HIV Medicine Association and the CDC have warned that criminalization laws can increase stigma, reduce screening, and undermine public health efforts. Moore said at the time that her goal was to address high rates of infection in Louisiana and that she was open to amendments and input from healthcare professionals. Trump store is selling 'Trump 2028' hats BRPD searching for man accused in deadly home invasion Louisiana House passes bill that aims to stop reservation reselling without restaurant consent Bill revives effort to criminalize non-consensual STD exposure in Louisiana Alijah Arenas, son of NBA star Gilbert Arenas and USC commit, in coma after crash Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill banning ballot harvesting passes House committee with support from AARP, clerks
CHEYENNE – A House bill that bans the act of 'ballot harvesting,' or gathering of ballots, passed easily through a House committee Wednesday morning on a 6-1 vote. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne, is the sponsor of House Bill 238, 'Ballot harvesting prohibition.' This bill fulfills one of Secretary of State Chuck Gray's goals to tighten the security of Wyoming's elections and boost election integrity. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne The act of ballot harvesting is used in places such as nursing home facilities, where qualified voters are unable to deliver their ballot to the clerk or visit a voting center on Election Day. As written, Johnson's bill would have allowed only the voter themself or an immediate family member to deliver the ballot to the clerk. An amendment passed by the House Appropriations Committee allows residential care facility employees to deliver ballots of qualified voters within that facility to the clerk. This includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes and community-based residential facilities. In order to deliver the absentee ballot, the employee must file an affidavit with the county clerk on a form provided by the Secretary of State's Office. All affidavits must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the election. This amendment was brought forth through a combined effort between Wyoming county clerks and Gray. Wyoming County Clerks Association lobbyist Mary Lankford said this amendment remedied a concern for qualified voters who live in these facilities without family members to help them vote. 'Primarily, the issue is that we have qualified electors in nursing homes and long-term care facilities that may not have immediate family for delivery of a ballot,' Lankford said. 'And that's where our amendment came from.' Lacock, Tom (2020, AARP Wyoming) Tom Lacock AARP Wyoming spokesperson Tom Lacock said he appreciated this amendment and what it did for older voters living in nursing homes. Lacock told committee members similar bans on ballot harvesting in other states have made it difficult for nursing home residents to vote in elections. 'So, good work,' Lacock said. Civics307 blogger Gail Symons said she supports this bill because it addresses 'a real opportunity for (voter) fraud.' 'There must be a good distinction between acts to deliberately affect outcomes and those intended to support valid voter participation,' Symons said. 'And I believe the attempted amendments start that distinction.' Symons said her remaining concern with the bill is the felony charge for violators. She described the bill's penalty as 'draconian' and asked lawmakers to amend it to a misdemeanor. Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, made an attempt to add this amendment, but it failed. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, who's previously served on the Legislature's House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, said it was rare to see so much support for an election-related bill. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland (2025) Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland 'I want to just sit here and have a moment of silence as I see Civics307, the Secretary of State, the clerks and AARP all saying, 'Good job,'' Haroldson said. 'On a serious note, I appreciate you guys working together and making this happen. I feel this is an answer to a potential problem.' The bill now goes back to the full House of Representatives for up to three votes.
