Latest news with #RoyalBruneiPoliceForce
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Malaysian man involved in online Macau scam sentenced to seven years' jail in Brunei
Royal Brunei Police Force personnel escort the suspect to a police cell. - Photo: RBPF BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A Malaysian national believed to be involved in an online Macau scam produced before court on May 17 was sentenced to a seven year jail term by Magistrate Nur Eleana Hairol Arni. The man faced nine charges under Section 420 and 109 of Chapter 22 of the Penal Code, as well as the Criminal Asset Recovery Order, 2012, related to money laundering. Deputy Public Prosecutors Emily Goh and Mohammad Syafi'e Mirhan led the prosecution. The suspect was apprehended by the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) on March 21, following an investigation by the Cyber Crime Investigation Division under the Criminal Investigation Department. As part of ongoing efforts, the Interpol Unit under RBPF is working with foreign agencies to trace and extradite other suspects believed to be still at large overseas. Authorities have reported several cases where scammers impersonated bank officers or police personnel to deceive victims. The modus operandi is the victims are falsely informed they are involved in credit card debt or money laundering and are tricked into transferring money online or handing over cash to unknown individuals. To date, over 50 such cases have been reported, with local victims suffering losses exceeding BND1 million. The RBPF urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal or financial information over calls or messages from unknown sources. Members of the public are advised to confirm with official authorities before making financial transactions and to report suspicious calls to the police immediately. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sultan Hassanal of Brunei, the world's longest-reigning living monarch
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, recuperating in a Kuala Lumpur hospital after being treated for "fatigue", is the world's longest-reigning living monarch -- and one of its richest people. He ascended the throne at the tender age of 21 in 1967 in the tropical kingdom perched on the northern tip of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Descending from a family that ruled Brunei for more than 600 years, the absolute monarch today at 78 still holds numerous positions in his oil-abundant state. He is the country's prime minister, defence minister, finance and economy minister, as well as foreign affairs supremo. Apart from his political duties, the sultan is also commander-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force. Under his stewardship, Brunei became one of the world's richest countries and gained independence from Britain in 1984 after almost a century of colonial rule. While the sultan has long lost the title of the world's richest man to tech billionaires, his wealth remains the stuff of legend. The Guinness Book of World Records says his home, Istana Nurul Iman, which translated in English means "Palace of the Light of Faith" is the largest residential palace in the world. - Lavish lifestyle - The sultan is also renowned for owning the world's largest private car collection. His gigantic fleet boasted at least 7,000 cars, valued at more than five billion dollars. Parties thrown by him and younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah in the 1980s and 1990s were said to be extravagant, costing millions of dollars with guests hanging out with stars like Michael Jackson. Brunei's living standards have soared to among the highest globally under his rule. But his reign has also been marked by controversies including the introduction of tough Islamic laws legislating penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning. Brunei was the first country in East or Southeast Asia to introduce sharia law at a national level in 2019 after years of delays. The harsh laws included death by stoning for adultery and gay sex and the amputation of a hand or foot for theft, which rights campaigners branded as "barbaric". Those punishments, however, have not been actively enforced following international backlash. Analysts said at the time the new code might be partly symbolic, as Sultan Hassanal was seeking to burnish his Islamic credentials among conservatives and win more support amid concerns about the economy. The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Sultan Hassanal and Prince Jefri over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s. During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". llk-jhe/tc
France 24
7 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Sultan Hassanal of Brunei, the world's longest-reigning living monarch
He ascended the throne at the tender age of 21 in 1967 in the tropical kingdom perched on the northern tip of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Descending from a family that ruled Brunei for more than 600 years, the absolute monarch today at 78 still holds numerous positions in his oil-abundant state. He is the country's prime minister, defence minister, finance and economy minister, as well as foreign affairs supremo. Apart from his political duties, the sultan is also commander-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force. Under his stewardship, Brunei became one of the world's richest countries and gained independence from Britain in 1984 after almost a century of colonial rule. While the sultan has long lost the title of the world's richest man to tech billionaires, his wealth remains the stuff of legend. The Guinness Book of World Records says his home, Istana Nurul Iman, which translated in English means "Palace of the Light of Faith" is the largest residential palace in the world. Lavish lifestyle The sultan is also renowned for owning the world's largest private car collection. His gigantic fleet boasted at least 7,000 cars, valued at more than five billion dollars. Parties thrown by him and younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah in the 1980s and 1990s were said to be extravagant, costing millions of dollars with guests hanging out with stars like Michael Jackson. Brunei's living standards have soared to among the highest globally under his rule. But his reign has also been marked by controversies including the introduction of tough Islamic laws legislating penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning. Brunei was the first country in East or Southeast Asia to introduce sharia law at a national level in 2019 after years of delays. The harsh laws included death by stoning for adultery and gay sex and the amputation of a hand or foot for theft, which rights campaigners branded as "barbaric". Those punishments, however, have not been actively enforced following international backlash. Analysts said at the time the new code might be partly symbolic, as Sultan Hassanal was seeking to burnish his Islamic credentials among conservatives and win more support amid concerns about the economy. The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Sultan Hassanal and Prince Jefri over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s. During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits".
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Sultan Hassanal Of Brunei, The World's Longest-reigning Living Monarch
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, recuperating in a Kuala Lumpur hospital after being treated for "fatigue", is the world's longest-reigning living monarch -- and one of its richest people. He ascended the throne at the tender age of 21 in 1967 in the tropical kingdom perched on the northern tip of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Descending from a family that ruled Brunei for more than 600 years, the absolute monarch today at 78 still holds numerous positions in his oil-abundant state. He is the country's prime minister, defence minister, finance and economy minister, as well as foreign affairs supremo. Apart from his political duties, the sultan is also commander-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force. Under his stewardship, Brunei became one of the world's richest countries and gained independence from Britain in 1984 after almost a century of colonial rule. While the sultan has long lost the title of the world's richest man to tech billionaires, his wealth remains the stuff of legend. The Guinness Book of World Records says his home, Istana Nurul Iman, which translated in English means "Palace of the Light of Faith" is the largest residential palace in the world. The sultan is also renowned for owning the world's largest private car collection. His gigantic fleet boasted at least 7,000 cars, valued at more than five billion dollars. Parties thrown by him and younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah in the 1980s and 1990s were said to be extravagant, costing millions of dollars with guests hanging out with stars like Michael Jackson. Brunei's living standards have soared to among the highest globally under his rule. But his reign has also been marked by controversies including the introduction of tough Islamic laws legislating penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning. Brunei was the first country in East or Southeast Asia to introduce sharia law at a national level in 2019 after years of delays. The harsh laws included death by stoning for adultery and gay sex and the amputation of a hand or foot for theft, which rights campaigners branded as "barbaric". Those punishments, however, have not been actively enforced following international backlash. Analysts said at the time the new code might be partly symbolic, as Sultan Hassanal was seeking to burnish his Islamic credentials among conservatives and win more support amid concerns about the economy. The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Sultan Hassanal and Prince Jefri over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s. During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". A general view of the main gate of Istana Nurul Iman, official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah AFP The National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, 2025, after Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was admitted due to fatigue AFP
