Latest news with #Kulai
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Police to operate 24-hour 997 hotline for scam victims from September, says deputy communications minister
KULAI, July 26 — The public, especially victims of online scams, are urged to use the 997 hotline, which will operate 24 hours as the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) under the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) from September. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the move is expected to improve assistance for victims amid the rising trend of online scams, with 46,817 scam-related advertisements detected this year as of July 15. She said a call to 997 will now be treated as a police report, eliminating the need for victims to lodge a separate report at a police station. 'This will save victims time and hassle,' she told reporters after inspecting a concrete drainage project to address flash floods at Kampung Melayu Bukit Batu here today. Teo said 80 per cent of scam ads are detected on Facebook, often misusing names of high-profile individuals. Last year, 6,297 fraudulent ads were removed across social media platforms. She added she was also a victim when her photos were used in fake ads offering free books by the former education minister. 'Even after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) removed the ads, other accounts uploaded the same scam. I am unhappy with Meta for allowing this to continue,' she said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
15-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
5 charged with human trafficking in sexual abuse case
The five accused pleaded not guilty at the Johor Bahru sessions court. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Five people aged between 17 and 33 have been charged with trafficking a teenage girl, a teenage boy and a man, in Kulai, Johor, earlier this year. Sham Chee Fei, 33, Kuek Pei Lin, 19, Lee Chun Kit, 28, Tommy Voo, 27, and a 17-year-old boy pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before sessions court judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok in Johor Bahru today. They were accused of trafficking a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, and a 26-year-old man for exploitation at a house in Kulai between March 23 and May 23, Sinar Harian reported. They also faced separate charges of human trafficking to which they also pleaded not guilty. In a separate courtroom, Kuek, Voo and the juvenile pleaded not guilty after they were charged with producing child sexual abuse materials in the form of videos and photographs of the two teenage victims. Another accused, Abdul Rahufur Rahim Idris, 30, also pleaded not guilty to a charge of non-physical sexual assault by instructing the teenage girl to perform sexual acts on the teenage boy. All four offences were allegedly committed at the same house between 6pm on May 22 and 5am on May 23. Separately, Lee was also charged with possessing two images and two videos of child sexual abuse content on his mobile phone at the same house on June 20. He pleaded not guilty. Maximum penalties for the offences range from five years' jail with whipping to life imprisonment. Bail was granted, ranging from RM6,000 to RM35,000. The accused were ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses, to report to the nearest police station once a month, and to surrender their passports.
Malay Mail
15-07-2025
- Malay Mail
In JB, six youths from alleged syndicate claim trial to multiple charges of child sex offences, trafficking, and labour exploitation
JOHOR BARU, July 15 — Six members of an online fraud and sexual extortion syndicate pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to multiple charges involving child sexual offences, human trafficking, and labour exploitation. The accused — Sham Chee Fei, 33; Kuek Pei Lin, 19; Lee Chun Kit, 28; Tommy Voo Tze Hau, 27; a 17-year-old male; and Abdul Rahufur Rahim Idris, 30 — were brought before two judges for a string of offences. Sham, Kuek, Lee, Voo and the minor were jointly charged with trafficking a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, and a 26-year-old man for labour exploitation by deception. The trafficking offences allegedly took place at a house on Jalan Lagenda 34, Taman Lagenda Putra in Kulai, between March 23 and May 23. They were charged under Sections 14 and 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carry sentences of up to life imprisonment, caning, and hefty fines. Separately, Kuek, Voo, and the juvenile were also charged with attempting to produce child sexual abuse material involving the two teenage victims. These charges, under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carry up to 30 years' imprisonment and six strokes of the cane. Abdul Rahufur was charged under Section 15(f) of the same Act for allegedly ordering the teenage girl to perform sexual acts on the teenage boy. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, for the alleged act committed on May 22-23. Lee was also separately charged with possessing child sexual abuse material — two photos and two videos — found on a mobile phone on June 20. The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Nur Diyana Zubir and Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin, while multiple defence counsels represented the accused. Bail ranging from RM6,000 to RM35,000 was granted for each accused, with conditions including monthly police reporting, surrender of passports, and no tampering with witness. The court set August 13, 14, and 19 for mention and document submission, while Sham, Voo and one M. Nageswaran also face separate charges in Kulai for allegedly causing grievous hurt with a rubber hose.
Malay Mail
15-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Trio in Kulai plead not guilty to deliberately injuring man with rubber hose in alleged extortion case
KULAI, July 15 — Three male youths claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court here today to charges of causing grievous hurt to a 26-year-old man using a rubber hose last month. The accused, Sham Chee Fei, 33; Tommy Voo Tze Hau, 27, and M Nageswaran, 32, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out by an interpreter before Magistrate R Salini. All three were alleged to be part of a local extortion syndicate. Based on the charge sheet, the three accused, along with another man who is still at large, had intentionally injured the victim by using a rubber hose as a weapon to commit the offence that could lead to death. The act was allegedly committed between 7pm on May 22 and 6am on May 23 at a house at Jalan Lagenda 34, Taman Lagenda Putra here. The accused were charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means. It was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code that addresses joint liability which provides for a prison sentence of up to 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or any two of those punishments. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor S Thiviya. Sham and Voo were represented by their counsel Gary Ng Boon Hui, while Nageswaran was represented by Lim Seay Sean. During the proceedings, the prosecution proposed that each accused be granted bail of RM15,000 each with one surety. Ng requested a minimum bail for both his clients that are employed as a real estate agent and travel agency staff. He said both accused do not have a regular income and are supporting their elderly parents. Similarly, Lim also requested a low bail amount for his client who is currently unemployed and does not have an income. The court granted the three accused a bail amount of RM5,000 each with one surety and set August 27 for mention, in addition to the submission of documents. Meanwhile, In the same court, Sham also faced three other charges of possessing an identity card belonging to a 32-year-old man and unlawfully being in possession of two international passports not under his name. The act was allegedly committed at 9.45am at the Senai International Airport here on June 20. Being in possession of someone else's identity card is an offence under Regulation 25(1)(0) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 which provides for a prison sentence of not more than three years, or a fine of not more than RM20,000 or both. The unlawful possession of international passports contravenes Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966 which is punishable under Section 12(1) of the same act which provides for a prison sentence of not more than five years or a fine of not more than RM10,000 or both. Sham pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out in the same court. For the three charges, the court granted the accused bail of RM7,000 with one surety.
Free Malaysia Today
14-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops bust online sextortion syndicate in Johor
Johor police chief M Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The police have busted a syndicate that used sexual blackmail tactics to prey on its victims with the arrest of nine suspects, including two women and a teenager. Berita Harian reported that the suspects, aged 17 to 50 years old, were arrested in an operation from June 20 to July 1 around Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor. Johor police chief M Kumar said the syndicate, which had been operating since last November, had its female members create fake social media accounts to entice its victims into making lewd video calls. He said they would then send the victim a mobile link, which would access the victim's photo gallery and contact list when clicked. 'The syndicate persuaded its victims to commit lewd acts on video calls, which would be recorded and used to blackmail them for money. 'The victims were generally forced to make payments of RM500 to RM1,000, and threatened with the distribution of their lewd videos to their contacts, including their family,' he said. Kumar said the syndicate also recruited non-schooling teenagers on social media as workers, paying them RM2,200 to RM4,000. He said they would be trained before being forced to work in other countries, such as Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand. The raids saw the rescue of three such victims, aged 15 to 16 years old. 'These teenagers would be locked up and forced to work 12 hours a day, and beaten if they refused to cooperate. 'Though they were given two-week breaks, their movements were still controlled and their mobile phones and identity cards confiscated. 'Those looking to quit would have to pay RM30,000 to be set free,' he said. Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others. The suspects in custody, including the mastermind, are being investigated under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as the National Registration Regulations 1990, Passport Act 1966, Penal Code and Societies Act 1966.
