Latest news with #Temerloh
Free Malaysia Today
12-08-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Court quashes man's rape conviction due to legal errors
The High Court in Temerloh overturned a sessions court ruling, acquitting a man accused of raping a teenager over a decade ago. (X pic) PETALING JAYA : The High Court in Temerloh has set aside a man's conviction of raping a teenager more than a decade ago, ruling that the sessions court had committed an error in law. Justice Roslan Mat Nor found that the conviction of Azmir Mirza Mahmud was unsafe, as the identification parade took place 12 years after the alleged offence and was of too poor a quality to reliably confirm him as the culprit. He said the sessions court also failed to take the long lapse of time into account when finding the accused guilty. 'The long gap in time cannot alter the fact that there were changes which may affect the truthfulness and accuracy of the victim in identifying him,' he said in his 68-page grounds of judgment. Azmir, 43, was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on July 31, 2010, at her home in Kampung Ulu Jelu, Raub. He was arrested 10 years later and sentenced to 12 years in prison and six strokes of the rotan. Prosecutors said Azmir had entered the home to commit robbery and threatened the teenager before raping her. Roslan also found that the lower court had erred by accepting the victim's testimony in full without corroborating evidence, despite labelling her as 'unusually convincing'. 'The sessions court cannot take a 'simple' approach in ruling that a witness's testimony is unusually convincing solely by hearing his or her (version of events) without looking at other evidence,' he said, adding that references need to be made to past case laws. While Azmir's DNA was found at the scene, Roslan said this only proved that he had been there, not that he had committed rape. The forensic doctor confirmed that there was penetration, but no proof suggesting that Azmir was responsible for it, the judge said.
Free Malaysia Today
31-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
MACC nabs 6 cops over RM12,000 bribe
The six suspects were detained at about 9pm yesterday after turning up at the MACC's Temerloh branch office to give their statements. KUANTAN : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Pahang has remanded six policemen for seven days for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to about RM12,000 as an inducement not to take action in a case involving possession of ketum juice. The remand order, which expires on Aug 6, was issued by Temerloh magistrate Khamisah Ismail today. According to a source, all six suspects, aged between 30 years and in their 50s, were detained at about 9pm yesterday after turning up at the MACC's Temerloh branch office to give their statements. 'The incident began when the suspects arrested five individuals in an operation in the district in May for suspected possession of ketum juice. 'One of the suspects is believed to have received the bribe from an individual acting as the middleman,' the source said. Pahang MACC director Shukor Mahmud, when contacted, confirmed the arrest, saying the case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Malay Mail
28-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Abdul Mubin Sheppard, the Irishman who gave his heart to Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — In January, 1928, a young Irishman named Mervyn Cecil ffrank Sheppard – the eldest of three children, including a twin brother – stepped off a slow train at Mentakab station, carrying just a long metal uniform case and a saddle. Born on June 21, 1905, in Ireland, the Cambridge graduate had passed his civil service examination in London the previous year before beginning what would become a decades-long love affair with Malaya. First steps in Malaya As recorded in his memoir Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an Unorthodox Civil Servant, Sheppard's introduction to Malaya was a humble one. A Malay clerk greeted him with an old Model T Ford taxi for the six-mile journey to Temerloh, Pahang. His first home was 'a low L-shaped timber bungalow, stained black, standing on a low ridge facing towards the Pahang river.' During his first remarkable decade in the Malayan Civil Service, Sheppard immersed himself completely in rural life, finding Malay culture 'fascinating and challenging.' He later wrote: 'During those early impressionable years, I had spoken no language except Malay for months,' traveling by foot and riverboat across Pahang's vast jungles. Building schools from scratch Sheppard quickly noticed rural children lacked education. In Slim, he found 30 illiterate children whose parents – mostly rubber smallholders – were willing to pay 50 cents monthly for schooling. 'Local carpenters had put up the school building and had made some rough benches,' he recorded. The opening ceremony featured 'home-made rice cakes and coconut milk.' This success inspired other villages to build their own schools using jungle timber and attap leaves. A different kind of civil servant Sheppard often challenged unfair systems. When a clerk presented a non-Malay candidate for an office boy position, he shocked the secretariat by insisting on Malay candidates. 'I called the three Malays who stood highest on the office waiting list and appointed the best of them,' he wrote. This earned him the nickname 'Malay-mad' from European colleagues, but deep respect from locals. A Malay officer's letter read: 'I must thank you most sincerely for what you are doing for the Malays... In you, we hope, we have one of the best.' During his career, he served in various parts of Malaya, including Negeri Sembilan, Klang, Kelantan, Taiping, and Kuala Lumpur — where he notably held the post of Acting British Adviser to the Menteri Besar. War and captivity During World War II, Sheppard served actively as Company Commander in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force from December 8, 1941 until his capture on February 15, 1942. He endured three years as a prisoner of war before resuming service in 1946 as Malaya's first Director of Public Relations. Tunku Abdul Rahman (front, centre, in white shirt and shorts) and Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard (behind Tunku Abdul Rahman, in suit) inspecting the construction site of Muzium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture courtesy of Jabatan Muzium Negara Playing a part in Independence As Malaya moved toward independence, Sheppard took crucial roles. In 1958, he became the first Keeper of Public Records (now the National Archives of Malaysia), describing his 'air-conditioned office' in the Prime Minister's Department as 'the first in my whole career'. That same year, he made history by obtaining Malayan citizenship through an 'unexpectedly simple' process under Article 17 of the Federal Constitution. He was also the founding director of Muzium Negara, which he built from the ground up alongside Singapore-based architect Ho Kok Hoe, following a directive from Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Today, Muzium Negara stands not only as a cultural institution but also as a lasting architectural symbol of post-Merdeka Malaysia – its iconic Minangkabau-inspired roofline, intricate carvings, and gleaming glass mosaic murals continue to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The museum's enduring appeal reflects Sheppard's deep respect for Malay heritage and his commitment to authenticity – a vision shaped in close partnership with Ho and guided by Tunku Abdul Rahman's hope for a national institution rooted in local identity. A new faith, a new name In 1960, answering what he called 'seruan (the call),' Sheppard performed the Haj pilgrimage. He embraced Islam as Abdul Mubin – choosing a name phonetically similar to his Irish name Mervyn, with 'Mubin' meaning 'clear' in Arabic. Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard (centre) during his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1960. — Picture from 'Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an Unorthodox Civil Servant' by Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard Retirement and legacy After retiring from government service in 1963, Sheppard remained active in public life. He served as Editor of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and Secretary General of All Malaysia Muslim Welfare Association from 1960 to 1964. His Petaling Jaya home became a base for writing acclaimed works like The Malay Regiment 1933-1947 and The Adventure of Hang Tuah. When he died on September 12, 1994 at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Malaysia honoured him with a military funeral at Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery. Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard after the conferment of 'Panglima Setia Mahkota' at Istana Negara in October 1969. — Picture from 'Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an Unorthodox Civil Servant' by Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard Former Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian remembered him as 'not merely a public servant who followed orders; he was always ready to take the initiative to overcome challenges beyond his official duties, doing so with conviction, energy, and compassion'. As Sheppard once wrote: 'I was content to make my home in Malaya'. His gravestone bearing the name Abdul Mubin Sheppard stands as a permanent testament to an Irish boy who became, in every meaningful way, a true son of Malaysia.
Free Malaysia Today
18-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Man faces death penalty for drug trafficking after fatal motorcycle crash
Chun Kok Keong was charged at the Temerloh magistrates' court with drug trafficking and possession, as well as driving dangerously, leading to the deaths of two teenagers. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A customer service officer who fatally struck two teenage motorcyclists on June 11 has been charged in the Temerloh magistrates' court with drug trafficking and possession, as well as two counts of dangerous driving. Chun Kok Keong, 38, was accused of trafficking 50.85g of methamphetamine in front of the Temerloh police headquarters at around 12.30am on June 12, reported Berita Harian. He nodded after the charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 was read out to him to indicate that he understood its contents. If convicted, he faces the death penalty, or up to 40 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death. No plea was recorded for this charge as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Chun was also charged under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Amendment 1988) with possessing 0.85g of heroin. The offence was allegedly committed at the same time and location. If convicted, he could face up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM100,000, or both. He pleaded not guilty to this charge. In the third and fourth charges, Chun was charged with driving dangerously and causing the deaths of Nur Erdina Shaffiya Muhammad Nazri and Aneez Irdiena Sofya Khairul Azman, both 18. The offence allegedly took place at a traffic light on Jalan Tengku Ismail in Temerloh at around 10.50pm on June 11. The charges were framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction. Chun, who was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Siti Fatimah Mohd Shahril, pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Adriana Azri and Siti Sarah Aqilah Lokman before magistrate Tan Chiew King. The court set Sept 18 for the next mention of the first and second charges, and July 17 for the third and fourth charges. It also imposed an additional condition that Chun's driving licence be suspended until the trial concludes.
Malay Mail
18-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Driver in fatal Temerloh crash charged with drug trafficking and reckless driving
TEMERLOH, June 18 — The car driver involved in a road crash that resulted in the death of two teenage girls was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with trafficking more than 50 grammes of Methamphetamine last week. Chun Kok Keong, 38, of Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, is charged with committing the offence in front of the lobby of the Temerloh District Police Headquarters at about 12.30 am on June 12 this year. The charge, under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, provides the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 15 strokes of the cane in the absence of the death penalty, upon conviction. No plea was recorded from Chun, who works as a customer service officer, after the charge was read out before Magistrate Tan Chiew King, as the case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Chun was also charged with possessing heroin weighing about 0.85 grammes at the same location and time under Section 12(2) of the same act. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which provides a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction. The court allowed him bail of RM4,500 with one surety for the charge and set Sept 18 for mention. Deputy public prosecutors Adriana Azrin and Siti Sarah Aqilah Lokman appeared for the prosecution, while Chun was represented by lawyer Siti Fatimah Mohd Shahril, from the National Legal Aid Foundation. In the same court, Chun also pleaded not guilty to two charges of dangerous driving, which resulted in the death of Nur Erdina Shaffiya Muhammad Nazri and Aneez Irdiena Sofya Khairul Azman, both aged 18, at the traffic lights on Jalan Tengku Ismail, here at 10.50 pm, on June 11 this year. The charge, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), provides imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of RM50,000 if convicted. Chun was not allowed bail as he is also facing charges for drug trafficking, which is a non-bailable offence. The court set July 17 for mention. — Bernama
