Latest news with #People'sCourt
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
Illegal surrogacy in Laos punishable by up to 19 years in jail, govt warns as cases reported
2017 FILE PHOTO: 'Wombs for rent' business flourishing in communist Laos. - Reuters VIENTIANE: The authorities have issued a stern warning against any form of surrogacy services in Laos, saying that perpetrators could be given prison sentences of up to 19 years and fined up to 400 million kip (US$0.019 million). The warning was issued after many cases were reported and processed. In 2018 and 2019, authorities detected numerous advertisements promoting illegal surrogacy services, leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects in five human trafficking cases. The People's Court has since delivered verdicts in all five cases, with the harshest penalty being 19 years in prison and fines of up to 400 million kip imposed. Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Colonel Kikeo Chanthalangsy, told the media that surrogacy is considered a criminal offence under Article 215 of the Lao Criminal Code, which pertains to human trafficking. Under Article 215, individuals found guilty of engaging in surrogacy-related human trafficking activities can face imprisonment of up to 19 years. 'Any individual or organisation involved in offering, arranging, or advertising such services is violating the law and will face serious legal consequences,' Colonel Kikeo warned. Authorities stressed that no private hospital or clinic is allowed to offer or facilitate this type of illegal service and the government has never authorised such practices. This year and last, anti-human trafficking authorities have continued to find advertisements posted by groups promoting illegal surrogacy services on social media. These ads often claimed that individuals were seeking surrogates and offered promises of high wages sufficient to support an entire family. Recruiters employed a range of tactics to persuade potential surrogates, promoting the belief that women would receive comprehensive care during pregnancy, including dedicated attendants and access to all essential medical and living facilities. Article 215 of the Lao Criminal Code states that individuals who recruit or hire women to become surrogates, as well as those who participate in or facilitate such arrangements, are directly liable and will face prosecution for human trafficking offences. Individuals who agree to become surrogates in violation of the law also face legal consequences, while risking serious impacts on their physical and mental health, as well as the well-being of their families. As for the children born through these illegal arrangements, their futures remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that they are considered to be victims of human trafficking, an outcome that is both tragic and deeply concerning. On behalf of anti-human trafficking authorities, Colonel Kikeo hopes that all members of society will be on the alert for such practices and inform the authorities if they have any suspicions about illegal activities. Any individual, whether Lao or foreign, who intends to hire a surrogate mother or adopt a surrogate mother, must consult a doctor at a government hospital designated by the Ministry of Health to obtain accurate information. - Vientiane Times/ANN
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam jails 23 people over rare earths exploitation
Defendants standing during their trial for illegal exploitation and exports of rare earths at the People's Court in Hanoi. - Photo: AFP HANOI: A Vietnamese court on Wednesday (May 21) jailed 23 officials and business people over the illegal exploitation and export of rare earths. The trial comes after the US Geological Survey (USGS) this year significantly revised down its estimate of rare earth deposits in Vietnam, which it once considered the world's second largest. The nine-day trial in Hanoi saw verdicts handed down to 27 defendants, including former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc, who was given three years in jail for "violating state regulations causing wastefulness". Others were given a range of prison sentences -- with 16 years being the highest -- for a number of offences, including violation of regulations on natural resources exploitation and causing environmental pollution. Four people were given suspended sentences. According to the court, the case concerning the exploitation, trade and export of mineral resources was "especially serious". The court said that a firm called Thai Duong Company was unlawfully granted a mining licence for rare earth exploitation in Yen Phu mine in northern mountainous Yen Bai province between 2019 and 2023. Defendants involved -- including environment officials as well as chief accountants and executives at various companies -- sold the rare earths and iron ore from the mine for close to $30 million, much of it to China. USGS slashed this year its estimate of Vietnam's rare earth reserves from an estimated 22 million tons to 3.5 million, threatening its ambitions to compete with Beijing in a sector crucial to high-tech devices. The revision meant the country dropped from the world's second largest reserve holder to the sixth, behind China, Brazil, India, Australia and Russia. USGS describes mineral reserves data as "dynamic". Reserves may be reduced as ore is mined or the feasibility of extraction diminishes, or they may continue to increase as additional deposits are developed, USGS says. Rare earths are a group of 17 heavy metals that are abundant in the Earth's crust across the globe. But mining the metals requires heavy chemical use that results in huge amounts of toxic waste and has caused several environmental disasters, making many countries wary of shouldering the heavy financial costs for production. Each of the rare earths is used in industry and found in a variety of everyday and high-tech devices, from light bulbs to guided missiles. - AFP
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Image of Kenya's Mike Sonko with Chinese investors unrelated to Vietnam death row inmate
'Mike Sonko in Vietnam to rescue Ndutaa (sic)...Sonko has just landed in Vietnam to negotiate the release of Margaret Nduta the lady who was supposed to be executed last evening for drug trafficking, will he manage? All the best Sonko,' reads the text overlay on a TikTok video published on March 18, 2025. The video shows a photograph of Sonko posing with three individuals. The post has been shared more than 1,100 times. Nduta, 37, was found guilty of drug trafficking and handed a death sentence by the People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on March 6, 2025 (archived here). She was arrested in July 2023 at the city's international airport with over two kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a suitcase. Her execution, which was scheduled for March 17, 2025, was postponed after Kenyan authorities intervened and filed an appeal (archived here). Sonko, who was born Mbuvi Gideon Kioko, is known for his charitable endeavours and flashy lifestyle, as well as brushes with the law (archived here and here). He served as senator and governor of Nairobi but was subsequently impeached and removed from office in 2020 (archived here, here and here). The TikTok video purportedly showing Sonko in Vietnam to rescue Nduta is, however, false. AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and found that the photo shared on TikTok was published on Sonko's X account on March 17, 2025 (archived here). 'The work has started,' reads the post in Swahili, with no further context. But, following the viral TikTok post, Sonko published a video with more detail about the image and dismissed claims of being in Vietnam (archived here). 'I have seen a silly story making rounds claiming that I have landed in Vietnam to stop Margaret Nduta's execution. It is from a TikTok account under the username African sponsor. This picture is from yesterday and these are investors from China,' Sonko said, partly in Swahili. 'This is not Vietnam. From the photo, you can see this clock and the background in my office. The people in the photo are not even Vietnamese. They are Chinese,' he added as he pointed to the matching features in the video and his office. Both videos show the red carpet as well as the gold clock and wallpaper in the background. The office, based in Nairobi's Upper Hill area, has also appeared in previous posts by Sonko (archived here and here). In the X video, he also shows supplements and medication laid out on a table, saying they are the only 'drugs' he deals with. He has in the past been linked to the drug trafficking trade in Kenya, accusations he denies (archived here and here). Additionally, Sonko urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to track down and apprehend the individual who helped Nduta get the drugs into Vietnam and have them executed instead, arguing that she may have been a pawn. A consulate team from Kenya's ministry of foreign affairs arrived in Vietnam on March 22, 2025, ahead of Nduta's execution appeal and confirmed that she was still alive (archived here). Sonko's social media activity shows that he was at the Harambee Stars football match in Nairobi a day after the consulate team arrived in Vietnam (archived here).
AFP
27-03-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Image of Kenya's Mike Sonko with Chinese investors unrelated to Vietnam death row inmate
'Mike Sonko in Vietnam to rescue Ndutaa (sic)...Sonko has just landed in Vietnam to negotiate the release of Margaret Nduta the lady who was supposed to be executed last evening for drug trafficking, will he manage? All the best Sonko,' reads the text overlay on a TikTok video published on March 18, 2025. Image Screenshot of the false post, taken on March 24, 2025 The video shows a photograph of Sonko posing with three individuals. The post has been shared more than 1,100 times. Nduta, 37, was found guilty of drug trafficking and handed a death sentence by the People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on March 6, 2025 (archived here). She was arrested in July 2023 at the city's international airport with over two kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a suitcase. Her execution, which was scheduled for March 17, 2025, was postponed after Kenyan authorities intervened and filed an appeal (archived here). Sonko, who was born Mbuvi Gideon Kioko, is known for his charitable endeavours and flashy lifestyle, as well as brushes with the law (archived here and here). He served as senator and governor of Nairobi but was subsequently impeached and removed from office in 2020 (archived here, here and here). The TikTok video purportedly showing Sonko in Vietnam to rescue Nduta is, however, false. Chinese investors AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and found that the photo shared on TikTok was published on Sonko's X account on March 17, 2025 (archived here). 'The work has started,' reads the post in Swahili, with no further context. But, following the viral TikTok post, Sonko published a video with more detail about the image and dismissed claims of being in Vietnam (archived here). 'I have seen a silly story making rounds claiming that I have landed in Vietnam to stop Margaret Nduta's execution. It is from a TikTok account under the username African sponsor. This picture is from yesterday and these are investors from China,' Sonko said, partly in Swahili. ATI NIKO VIETNAM: Just seen African 001 has posted on tik-tok that I'm in Vietnam trying to negotiate for the release of Margret Nduta. May the Lord stand with Nduta's family during this trying and difficult moment. May He have mercy on Nduta. May He deliver her from Evil. My He… — Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) March 18, 2025 'This is not Vietnam. From the photo, you can see this clock and the background in my office. The people in the photo are not even Vietnamese. They are Chinese,' he added as he pointed to the matching features in the video and his office. Both videos show the red carpet as well as the gold clock and wallpaper in the background. Image Screenshots comparing the false TikTok post (left) and the video published by Sonko The office, based in Nairobi's Upper Hill area, has also appeared in previous posts by Sonko (archived here and here). In the X video, he also shows supplements and medication laid out on a table, saying they are the only 'drugs' he deals with. He has in the past been linked to the drug trafficking trade in Kenya, accusations he denies (archived here and here). Additionally, Sonko urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to track down and apprehend the individual who helped Nduta get the drugs into Vietnam and have them executed instead, arguing that she may have been a pawn. A consulate team from Kenya's ministry of foreign affairs arrived in Vietnam on March 22, 2025, ahead of Nduta's execution appeal and confirmed that she was still alive (archived here). Sonko's social media activity shows that he was at the Harambee Stars football match in Nairobi a day after the consulate team arrived in Vietnam (archived here).
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Farewell Dan Wetzel: tributes, toilets & tourney talk
Have your box of tissues nearby, it's Dan Wetzel's final episode as host of College Football Enquirer alongside Ross Dellenger & SI's Pat Forde. The trio react to some of the most passionate fan responses to the news of Dan's departure and share memorable moments from the show's 700+ episode journey. Dan, Ross & Pat also chat about the recent success of old-school college basketball coaches like Rick Pitino, Bruce Pearl, Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes. How have these coaches found continued success despite the ever-changing landscape of college athletics? Ross reports on the AAC's decision to implement a $10 million minimum revenue sharing standard for each of the schools in its league. Plus, a People's Court involving the robbery of a solid gold toilet. (0:45) Farewell Dan Wetzel (18:07) Old-school CBB coaches (33:06) 'D-II' Drake advances to NCAA tournament (39:15) Could Pitino find success anywhere? (41:45) AAC implements $10 million revenue share minimum (51:05) Rick Pitino continued (53:53) People's Court Follow Dan @DanWetzel Follow Pat @ByPatForde Follow Ross @RossDellenger 🖥️
