Latest news with #934
Arab Times
08-08-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait Housing Authority Fraud: Top Official Gets 15 Years In Prison
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 7: The Court of Cassation has closed one of the biggest corruption cases in the country -- the embezzlement of KD933,000 from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). The case centered on the illegal seizure of rent allowance funds through the manipulation of citizens' housing files without their knowledge. The court sentenced a department head at PAHW to 15 years in prison with hard labor, fined him KD1,934,000, and dismissed him from his position. The court also upheld the five-year prison sentence imposed on two employees, fined them KD627,000 and dismissed one of them from his job. Two other employees were fined KD3,000 each, and one of them was also dismissed from his job, bringing the total number of dismissed staff involved in the case to three. The case dates back to 2016, when the Legal Department at the authority uncovered a widespread tampering with citizens' rent allowance files, resulting in the unauthorized disbursement of huge sums through the use of their data within their knowledge. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
TimesLIVE
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Lamborghini's half-year operating profit dips amid currency headwinds
Italian luxury sports car maker Lamborghini said on Wednesday its operating income fell slightly in the first half even as it delivered record numbers of cars to customers as currency effects weighed on its bottom line. Operating income stood at €431m (R8,904,511,720) from January to June versus €458m (R9,462,934,940) a year before, primarily due to unfavourable exchange rate trends in the second quarter, the company said. "The results are solid despite global economic and political instability," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said. Net revenues amounted to €1.62bn (R33,471,516,600) in the time as the carmaker, part of Germany's Volkswagen, delivered 5,681 cars, its highest amount ever for a first half. Its operating profit margin fell to 26.6% from 28.3% a year before. Winkelmann said the results confirmed a decision to make all Lamborghini's range hybrid was right, as shown by the success of the Revuelto sportscar, its first plug-in hybrid, launched in 2023, and of the Urus SE SUV. "Our vision is shared by our customers," he said. "We look forward to the market launch of the Temerario, which will complete the first fully hybrid range in the segment". Lamborghini, based near Bologna in northern Italy, did not make any reference to Sunday's EU-US framework trade deal, which imposed a 15% US import tariff on most EU goods, despite the Americas region accounting for around 30% of its deliveries in the first half, or 1,732 cars. The Europe, Middle East and Africa region led deliveries in that time with 2,708 units, while Asia Pacific accounted for 1,241 units. Earlier this year Winkelmann said US tariffs would have an impact on Lamborghini's revenue even though luxury product makers can pass on potential tariffs to customers as there was a "sweet point" beyond which "you lose volumes".
New Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Excavation did not cause Putra Height explosion
SHAH ALAM; The Selangor State Assembly was informed today that the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 1 was not caused by excavation works, nor was it the trigger for the resulting blaze. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said investigations by the police, Minerals and Geoscience Department, and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) confirmed that the groundworks did not impact the gas pipeline. "According to checks with the local authorities, the 4.2-metre monsoon drain construction and the residential development took place around 2008 to 2009, before the establishment of the One-Stop Centre in 2010," he said during a briefing on the Putra Heights incident at the Selangor state assembly today. Amirudin also refuted allegations that the developer had carried out unauthorised construction near the Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) reserve. He clarified that the company had complied with Petronas' safety conditions and obtained formal approval to proceed with works on March 20, 2025. He also denied claims that the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) had failed to meet the necessary criteria when approving the planning permission for works within the Petronas buffer zone, explaining that while PGB's buffer zone requirement is 60 feet, the approved buffer zone at the Putra Heights site was 66 feet. Earlier, DOSH Petroleum Safety Division director, Husdin Che Amat, was reported as saying that the incident was caused by weak soil conditions beneath the pipeline. He said that while the pipeline met all technical specifications, the investigation revealed that the ground beneath it was weak and failed to provide proper support, leaving a segment of the pipe resting over soft, wet soil. On a separate development, Amirudin said the reconstruction and repair works for the affected homes are ahead of schedule. He said that based on assessments by the Economic Planning Unit, three homes in Taman Putra Harmoni will be rebuilt, while 46 will undergo repairs, and another 46 units are still undergoing final structural inspections. He added that in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, of the 17 homes affected, 11 will be rebuilt and six repaired. He said that as of now, homeowners in Taman Putra Harmoni have submitted repair claims amounting to RM458,440.50, while residents of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru have filed claims for RM884,934. He reminded residents that they have until Oct 27 to submit all required documents, with MBSJ, which is acting as facilitator. "Following the assessment, the state government will propose to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to raise the ceiling for repair costs from RM30,000 to RM60,000 to account for roofing tiles and replacement of fittings such as water tanks," he concluded. – BERNAMA
Borneo Post
26-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Suspected Sibu drug trafficking syndicate mastermind released on police bail
The suspect is escorted to the courtroom. SIBU (June 26): A 52-year-old man suspected of being the mastermind of a drug trafficking syndicate here with his wife was released on police bail today. Senior Assistant Registrar Jessica Lee issued the release order based on an application by investigating officer Insp Aminur Rizwan Saiful Bahari. The suspect did not have legal representation. His 44-year-old wife, who was represented by lawyer Darren Ling, was released on Tuesday after the expiration of her remand order. The husband and wife were arrested after police raided a space at Jalan Pedada and two terraced houses at Lorong Permai Jaya on June 12 and 13. Drugs worth RM532,934 were seized involving 7.0867kg of methamphetamine, 2.0789kg of ketamine, and 2.0226kg of Erimin 5 pills. Also seized were cash totalling RM5.1 million, four gold bars, two gold necklaces, three Rolex watches, two luxury cars, and a saloon car. The seizures worth a total RM8.5 million are believed to be the highest ever recorded in Sarawak. Initial police investigations pointed to the husband and wife allegedly being the main masterminds of the drug syndicate, which had been active since 2015. The syndicate sourced its drugs from Peninsular Malaysia using courier services. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. If not sentenced to death, the offender must also receive a minimum 12 strokes of the cane.
Borneo Post
20-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Sibu married couple alleged to have led drug trafficking syndicate further remanded
The male suspect is escorted out of the courtroom following proceedings. SIBU (June 20): The Magistrates' Court here today further remanded a husband and wife arrested recently for allegedly masterminding a drug trafficking syndicate. Magistrate Oon Kork Chern allowed the 52-year-old male suspect to be further remanded for seven days, while his 44-year-old wife was remanded for another four days, following the expiration of their initial seven-day remand order which began on June 13. The court also ordered the female suspect, represented by lawyer Darren Ling, to reappear in court on June 24, while the male suspect, who was unrepresented, will return to court on June 27. Investigating officer Insp Aminur Rizwan Saiful Bahari had requested the court extend the remand of both suspects for seven more days to assist with investigations. On June 12 and 13 , police from the Sibu Narcotics Crime Investigation Division had raided a shop on Jalan Pedada and two terraced houses in Permai Jaya, leading to the couple's arrests. Drugs worth RM532,934 were seized involving 7.0867kg of methamphetamine, 2.0789kg of ketamine, and 2.0226kg of Erimin 5 pills. Also seized from the syndicate were cash totalling RM5.1 million, four gold bars, two gold necklaces, three Rolex watches, two luxury cars, and a saloon car. The seizures worth a total RM8.5 million are believed to be the highest ever recorded in Sarawak. Initial police investigations revealed that both suspects were the main masterminds behind the drug syndicate, which had been active in Sibu since 2015. The syndicate sourced its drugs from Peninsular Malaysia using courier services. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. If not sentenced to death, the offender must also receive a minimum 12 strokes of the cane. drug syndicate lead married couple Sibu magistrates' court
