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Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-MMEA director gets 20 months' jail for accepting bribe
Zulfadli Nayan was accused of using his position to refrain from taking action in an investigation involving the vessel MT Singa Gangsa, owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A former Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director was today sentenced to 20 months in prison by the Johor Bahru sessions court for accepting a RM10,000 bribe five years ago. Zulfadli Nayan, 44, was found guilty after the court found that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, Bernama reported. Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail ordered the former Tanjung Sedili maritime zone MMEA director to serve the sentence from today. Zulfadli's lawyer, Fazaly Ali Ghazaly requested a stay of execution on the jail sentence, but it was dismissed. Earlier, the lawyer requested the court to only impose a fine on his client, who has four children aged three to 11 to support. He said Zulfadli was suspended from work as senior assistant director of MMEA's international relations and coordination branch on May 23, 2021, and had since been working as an e-hailing driver and taking electrical wiring jobs, earning between RM2,000 and RM3,000 a month. 'He also suffers from gout, serious migraines and gastritis for which he has to take his medication regularly,' Fazaly added. Deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission appeared for the prosecution. On May 23, 2021, Zulfadli claimed trial to a charge of accepting a cash bribe of RM10,000 from shipping company owner Wan Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal, Johor Bahru at 10pm on Oct 2, 2020. He was accused of using his position at the time to refrain from taking action in an investigation involving the vessel MT Singa Gangsa, owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd. The ship was detained by KM Mulia of MMEA's Tanjung Sedili maritime zone on Sept 17, 2020. Zulfadli was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code with receiving a bribe, which carries a jail sentence of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction. On Dec 18 last year, Kamal ordered him to enter his defence after finding the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Court charges a ‘blessing in disguise' for Urimai, says Ramasamy
P Ramasamy claimed trial to 17 counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM850,000 in Penang Hindu Endowments Board's funds. BUTTERWORTH : Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy described his court charges as a blessing in disguise since it will help strengthen his party, Urimai. Ramasamy said the court case would help the party attract more supporters to Urimai's cause of championing the plight of the Indian community. He claimed that his party, which he founded after leaving DAP in 2023, was already being viewed as a threat by the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition. 'They (my rivals) are thinking of how to discredit me,' he told reporters here. Such a scheme by his political rivals, he said, would backfire. 'Charging me (in court) is actually a blessing because I think Urimai is going to be more popular.' Earlier, Ramasamy pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM850,000 in Penang Hindu Endowments Board's funds. He was the board's chairman from 2010 to 2023. Last year, the present PHEB commissioners submitted a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, after highlighting red flags during an audit. Ramasamy said the charges were politically motivated, claiming that he was likely dragged to court for quitting DAP and setting up Urimai, as well as his continuous criticism of the government. He also alleged that certain quarters were trying to derail his political career through the charges linked to the 2019 Thaipusam golden chariot purchase and cash aid given to needy individuals during his PHEB chairmanship. He, however, said PHEB's decisions were made collectively by the board. 'Every payment had the board's approval. I'm not the only signatory,' he said. His lawyer, Shamsher Singh Thind, said the 17 charges were excessive and lacked merit, adding that 13 charges alone were for the 13 transactions made in purchasing the golden chariot. Shamsher said PHEB's accounts were audited yearly by the auditor-general and that these had been given clean certificates. He wondered why it took so many years for these 'red flags' to be detected. 'These charges are frivolous,' he said.
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TNB reveals electricity theft by illegal crypto miners in Malaysia jumps fourfold between 2018 and last year
KUALA LUMPUR May 12 – Electricity theft linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia has surged by nearly 300 per cent from 2018 to 2024, according to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Star cited the utility provider saying this spike was uncovered through joint operations with the Energy Commission, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and local councils. 'Joint operations and nationwide raids have successfully shut down illegal mining setups, contributing to an increase in detected cases from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024. These enforcement actions have safeguarded the stability of the power grid,' TNB reportedly said. 'For the same period, the average number of complaints related to cryptocurrency was 1,699, with an average of 340 per month. The number of complaints reflects increasing public awareness of reporting on illicit crypto mining activities.' Between January 2020 and December 2024, TNB said it recorded an average of 2,303 electricity theft cases annually linked to cryptocurrency activities. TNB said it detected suspicious electricity usage through continuous consumption pattern analysis and by collaborating with authorities to ensure reliable power supply for all users. To improve detection, TNB has ramped up the deployment of smart meters, which log daily electricity use and transmit data via radio frequency for real-time monitoring and billing. The company is also advocating for stronger enforcement under the Electricity Supply Act and the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to identify and flag abnormal consumption. Under the law, tampering with electrical installations carries a maximum RM1 million fine, up to 10 years' jail, or both, while offenders may also be charged under Sections 379 and 427 of the Penal Code for theft and mischief. In one high-profile case this January, around 60 homeowners and shop operators in Perak were hit with electricity bills between RM30,000 and RM1.2 million due to illegal connections set up by tenants involved in crypto mining. On April 30, police dismantled a syndicate involved in electricity theft for bitcoin mining in Hulu Terengganu and Marang. TNB said that as Malaysia aims to become a key digital economy hub, the use of blockchain technologies, tokenisation, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies must be balanced with strong regulatory enforcement.
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
TNB reveals electricity theft by illegal crypto miners in Malaysia jumps threefold between 2018 and last year
KUALA LUMPUR May 12 – Electricity theft linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia has surged by nearly 300 per cent from 2018 to 2024, according to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Star cited the utility provider saying this spike was uncovered through joint operations with the Energy Commission, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and local councils. 'Joint operations and nationwide raids have successfully shut down illegal mining setups, contributing to an increase in detected cases from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024. These enforcement actions have safeguarded the stability of the power grid,' TNB reportedly said. 'For the same period, the average number of complaints related to cryptocurrency was 1,699, with an average of 340 per month. The number of complaints reflects increasing public awareness of reporting on illicit crypto mining activities.' Between January 2020 and December 2024, TNB said it recorded an average of 2,303 electricity theft cases annually linked to cryptocurrency activities. TNB said it detected suspicious electricity usage through continuous consumption pattern analysis and by collaborating with authorities to ensure reliable power supply for all users. To improve detection, TNB has ramped up the deployment of smart meters, which log daily electricity use and transmit data via radio frequency for real-time monitoring and billing. The company is also advocating for stronger enforcement under the Electricity Supply Act and the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to identify and flag abnormal consumption. Under the law, tampering with electrical installations carries a maximum RM1 million fine, up to 10 years' jail, or both, while offenders may also be charged under Sections 379 and 427 of the Penal Code for theft and mischief. In one high-profile case this January, around 60 homeowners and shop operators in Perak were hit with electricity bills between RM30,000 and RM1.2 million due to illegal connections set up by tenants involved in crypto mining. On April 30, police dismantled a syndicate involved in electricity theft for bitcoin mining in Hulu Terengganu and Marang. TNB said that as Malaysia aims to become a key digital economy hub, the use of blockchain technologies, tokenisation, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies must be balanced with strong regulatory enforcement.
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Daily Express
Pamela Ling's abduction may have been staged, say investigators
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025 By: Kenneth Tee, Malay Mail Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities strongly believed Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) witness Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh, who was abducted last month, is still in the country and alive. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said official immigration records showed that Ling last departed Malaysia for Singapore in January. 'As of now, there is no departure movement based on official channels. We believe she is still in the country based on immigration records. 'I am also confident she is still alive for the time being,' he told reporters during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Headquarters here. When asked if there was a possibility of Ling staging her own abduction, Rusdi did not rule it out. 'It's possible (that she staged her abduction). There are many possibilities. "Whatever it is, we will eliminate these possibilities one by one (in our investigation)," he said. Rusdi also said closed-circuit television footage (CCTV) obtained by investigators also revealed there were in fact five vehicles involved in Ling's abduction, not three initially. He also confirmed three of the vehicles involved during the interception were using cloned numbers plates. 'We have spoken to the original vehicle owners and they have confirmed that they were in possession of their vehicles at the time of the incident,' he said. Rusdi also said CCTV footage obtained from Ling's departure point showed her to be in a calm and collected manner. 'She also showed no sign of struggle and cooperated during the incident,' he said. As for claims that Ling has been abducted by uniformed personnel, Rusdi confirmed two of the suspects were wearing police vests based on CCTV footages and were therefore impostors. He said police believed at least eight suspects were involved in Ling's abduction, namely the five drivers of the vehicles involved and three who disembarked from the intercepting vehicles. 'However during operations, these vests are often not worn in order to conceal our identity or else it could jeopardise the operation entirely. 'I can also confirm that there were no sanctioned police operations at the time of the incident, making it highly possible that Ling's abductors had worn the vests to masquerade and mislead,' he said. He also disclosed a photofit of one of the suspects had been drawn but poorly rendered, therefore remained unhelpful as of now. On April 9, Ling was en route to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to have her statement recorded when her e-hailing ride was intercepted by unidentified persons in several vehicles. She subsequently failed to appear, prompting her lawyer to file a police report regarding her disappearance on the same day. No ransom demand has been made in connection with her disappearance to date. - Malay Mail * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
