Sting smashes drug ring

Sting smashes drug ring

Sting smashes drug ring

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 12:39AM
By KALBANA PERIMBANAYAGAM | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: HE narrowly escaped being charged with drug trafficking last year, but that did not stop an Iranian man from continuing  his illegal activities.

On Saturday, he was arrested again in a raid by the force's new Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting), in which police seized 15kg of syabu and the main ingredients used in processing the drug.

Federal Narcotics Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said police believed the 36-year-old foreigner to be a drug "kingpin" but were unable to charge him last year due to lack of evidence.

He said, during the raids this time, the man was arrested along with six other Iranians, including a woman believed to be his wife, and two Malaysians.

"All seven foreigners were arrested in a series of raids conducted between 3.30am and 4am at three separate condominium units operating as drug dens -- one in Cyberjaya and two in Jalan Ipoh."

Noor Rashid said in a follow up operation at 8.30am the same day, police discovered a syabu processing laboratory in a house in Jalan Ampang.

Police seized 9.7kg of syabu crystal, 11.6kg of syabu liquid, 1,100 Ecstasy pills, 4.6kg of ephedrine powder and other chemical substances, as well as equipment to process drugs.

Following the raid at the lab, the Sting team were led to another drug den in Sungai Besi, where a Malaysian couple connected to the Iranians were detained with 2.4kg of methamphetamine.

Noor Rashid said police seized RM213,308 cash and a Toyota Vios, a Honda City and a Honda Jazz from the suspects.

In an unrelated case on Thursday, Noor Rashid said Sting officers were successful when they raided a house in Taman Maluri, Kepong, at 1.15am and arrested three men after they discovered three plastic packets containing 1.2kg of heroin in the house.

"Upon interrogation, the team were led to another house in Batu Caves, where police uncovered a drug processing laboratory. They seized five plastic packets containing 2.3kg of heroin, 280g of drug powder and equipment used for processing drugs," he said, adding that police seized RM3 million worth of drugs in the two cases.

All those detained, aged between 22 and 42, have been remanded to facilitate investigations.

In January, Noor Rashid said police had arrested 17,760 drug offenders and confiscated RM10.44 million worth of drugs.

"We seized 831kg of drugs, 30,314 pills, and 39 ganja plants."

Federal Narcotics Department director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim showing the drug processing equipment at police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Aizuddin Saad

100 fishermen urge Perak MB to halt project

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 12:42AM
By JASPAL SINGH | jaspal@nst.com.my

BAGAN SERAI: MORE than 100 fishermen are asking Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to stop a freshwater prawn project from proceeding in Kampung Teluk Rubiah.

The calls to halt the project by a private company which had been in full swing since early this month, was raised following the clearing of a mangrove forest at a site where saplings had been planted by companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), federal and state agencies.

Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula chairman and local fishing community spokesman Zakaria Mohamad, 48, said the locals were shocked when they learnt that the 100-hectare site of mangrove replanting area had been "invaded" and cleared  for a freshwater prawn aquaculture  project by a company from Penang.

"We have collected photographic evidence of bulldozers being used to clear the site which we then handed  over to the Kerian Land and District Office.

"We were informed that the project was legal and that most of the land in Kampung Teluk Rubiah had been acquired for the project."

In the past  six to seven years,  the fishermen with the assistance of government departments, the corporate sector, NGOs and university students, had planted 200,000 saplings.

Zakaria said he considered the efforts by the federal and state authorities which had spent more than RM500,000 to conserve the mangrove forest at Kampung Teluk Rubiah for eco-tourism purpose, as a waste.

"Part of the site of the aquaculture project is a feeding ground for migratory birds that fly between the northern and southern hemispheres during the winter season.

"If big projects are allowed in mangrove forest areas around Kuala Gula, we will see the number of migratory birds dwindling.

"Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula urges the   MB to intervene in this matter."

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field officer Meor Razak said although the company was given the land to carry out its prawn project, the company should respect the mangrove conservation initiative.

Both NGOs implored Zambry to intercede in the matter while SAM urged the state government to review the approval given for the project. 

Meor said the project  could also affect the primary source of livelihood for the fishing community of Kuala Gula.

A worker using heavy machinery to clear the mangrove forest in Kampung Teluk Rubiah in Kuala Gula to open a prawn-breeding project. Pic courtesy of Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula

I did put up a fight, says maid abuse victim

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 01:25AM

 During cross-examination by Yim's counsel, Chan Vy Sing, yesterday, Nirmala said she had tried to deflect the iron with her hands but ended up getting hurt on her hands as well as her breasts.

 Chan: Did you try to take the iron away from the first defendant?

 Nirmala: I did not.

 Chan: So you did put up a fight?

 Nirmala: Yes.

 When Chan asked her why, during the criminal proceedings against Yim eight years ago, that she testified she did not fight back, Nirmala said she could not remember why she said that.

 "So what you are telling the court today (yesterday) contradicts your testimony eight years ago," Chan said, which Nirmala disagreed.

 When he said that nowhere was this stated in the police report she lodged in 2004 against Yim, she agreed.

 Nirmala disagreed that she did not include it in the report because she did not regard the matter to be important.

   Chan: Do you agree you did not tell the two physicians (who examined Nirmala) about your hands being injured while putting up a fight?

 Nirmala: Agree.

 Chan: Then I put it to you that your answer to Question 28 (Nirmala's Witness Statement) was merely fiction made up only now to bolster your current civil case (against Yim)?

 Nirmala: I do not agree.

 Chan was referring to Question 28: "Did you try to prevent the first defendant from pressing the hot iron?" to which the answer was "Yes, I tried to prevent (Yim from pressing the hot iron on her) by putting up both my hands and the first defendant put the hot iron on my hands."

 When Chan put it to Nirmala that the marks on her hands were caused by old accident, she disagreed.

 Nirmala was testifying in a suit for damages and loss of income against Yim and her husband, Hii Ik Tiing.

 Handcuffed and clad in an orange baju kurung, Yim appeared composed while sitting at court yesterday.

 Hearing continues today before judge Siti Khatijah S. Hassan Badjenid.

PM: BR1M to be paid out Feb 22

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 12:55AM

  In his Facebook posting yesterday, Najib said those who did not have bank accounts would get their BR1M payment in stages from Feb 23.

  Last week, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said about 5.4 million recipients would receive their BR1M 3.0 payment on Feb 22.

  The aid will be increased from RM500 to RM650 for each household with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below, while single individuals aged 21 years and above with a monthly income of not more than RM2,000 will get RM300 compared with RM250 previously.


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Fish found after 3 days of desilting

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 01:19AM
By MELISSA DARLYNE CHOW AND MUHAMAD SYAKIR ABDUL WAHAB | news@nst.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: SIGNS of life have reappeared in the polluted stretch of Sungai Batu Ferringhi following three days of desilting.

  Yesterday, several workers  caught an ikan linang while excavating dark-coloured sand and clay from the riverbed.

  Previously, the polluted portion of the river,  200m from the spot where effluent from the nearby Indah Water Konsortium  (IWK) sewage treatment plant had spewed into the waterway until the estuary, was devoid of riverine life.

  The cleaning derby, hired by the Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), was  pleasantly surprised to find the fish, closely related to the eel, while an excavator was scooping the sand.

  A resident said the polluted stretch had been devoid of life for a  long time.  "I'm very happy the river is coming back to life," he said.

  Another resident said he had spotted a dog  lapping water from the edge of the river stretch undergoing the  clean-up.  "The fish's discovery and dog lapping water are sure signs the river will soon be teeming with life again." he said.

 DID workers manning the desilting works, involving some 30 tonnes of sand and marine clay, said the river clearing was expected to be completed by Saturday.

  One of them said the sediment, including dark-coloured sand excavated from the polluted stretch, would be used to fill up the eroded portion of the nearby beach.

In Bukit Mertajam, Penang Wanita Umno has criticised the state government over its incompetency in handling the  pollution in Batu Ferringhi.

  Its chief, Senator Norliza Abdul Rahim, said the Penang government should have temporarily closed the  beachfront for clean-up works.

A worker showing the ikan linang found during the excavation work at Sungai Batu Ferringhi in Penang yesterday. Pic by Ramdzan Masiam

Baby dies after choking on milk

Posted: 11 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

12 February 2014| last updated at 12:44AM

The infant was  believed to have choked on  milk he had consumed.

 The baby boy is said to have not responded when his adopted mother, in her 50s, tried to wake him up after she found him motionless in his bed.

 The boy, born last Tuesday, was given up by his maternal mother to the family as she was unable to raise him due to financial constraints.

Alor Gajah police chief Superintendent Mohammad Laham  said  investigations showed  the baby died of breathing difficulties and they were waiting for a postmortem report. The case has been classified by the police as sudden death.