Malaysia Crime Watch

16 January 2010
Semenyih

Two factories were raided by officials from the Health Ministry and found to have more than RM2 million worth of dangerous chemicals, including sildenafil, a drug known to treat erectile dysfunction.

Deputy enforcement director Wan Hamid Wan Ibrahim said authorities have been investigating the case for months as they suspected a company was responsible for the manufacture of coffee mixtures laced with sildenafil. The drug is usually available only upon a doctor’s prescription.

Enforcement officials raided a factory in Villa Raya Industrial Park on Wednesday at 5:30pm and struck another in nearby Taman Sri Haneco.

In the first factory, they found 2kg of white powder, believed to be sildenafil, in a rubbish compartment. There was machinery used to produce powdered coffee mixtures from ingredients such as glucose, sugar, flavouring powder and cocoa powder. Investigations revealed that 70,000 packets, priced between RM10 and RM20 each, could be produced there. Wan Hamid said these mixtures were distributed locally by direct-selling companies, who did not declare the existence of the drug in them.

Two Nepalese men and a local man, who claimed to be a technician, were nabbed.

If not consumed with a doctor’s instruction, sildenafil could cause side effects such as headache, flushing, stomachache, blurred vision, and even sudden death.

Slimming health products were also found to be containing sibutramine, an appetite suppressant. Uncontrolled consumption of this drug can cause nausea, constipation and dizziness.

Eight women were found packing coffee mixtures into boxes in the second raid. On these boxes were printed “Made in France”, “Made in Japan” and “Made in the United States”.

New Straits Times Online – RM2m drug-laced coffee haul
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/13sifa/Article/index_html>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, semenyih, villa raya industrial park, taman sri haneco, sildenafil, sibutramine, dangerous chemical, drug, direct selling, coffee mixture

15 January 2010
Petaling Jaya

The office along Jalan Yong Shook Lin belonging to the law firm of the two lawyers representing the Catholic newspaper, The Herald, has been burglarized yesterday at 7:55am. The publication has been in the recent spotlight as it requested to use the word “Allah” in its articles.

Lawyer Derek Fernandez, one of the three partners of Fernandez and Selvarajah, arrived at the office at 8:15am after one of his staff informed him. He said the burglars had taken a laptop, some cash and some clients’ documents. There was also black paint sprayed over the security camera on the first floor of the office.

Lawyer S. Selvarajah said a four-tier safe was forced open and some documents from inside were stolen.

The firm moved into this office location in 1996 and had been broken into once a few years ago.

State Chief Police Officer Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said investigations are underway after six sets of fingerprints from the office were obtained.

The Star Online – Office of Herald lawyers broken into
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/15/nation/5473825&sec=nation>

New Straits Times Online – Burglary at ‘Herald’ lawyers’ office
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/6drk/Article/index_html>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, petaling jaya, jalan yong shook lin, law firm, burglary, catholic newspaper, herald, fernandez and selvarajah

15 January 2010
Kota Tinggi

The premises of the St Elizabeth Catholic Church along Jalan Kota Kechil, Johor, was found to be covered in red and brown paint early yesterday morning. The doorsteps, front gates and fencing were splashed with paint, which was still wet when police arrived at 8:30am.

OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said two empty paint cans and seven bags of paint were found nearby. It is believed that the paint was poured into the bags and thrown into the church compound.

The vandalism case has been classified under under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity on grounds of religion. Police will increase patrols at six churches in the district, including St Elizabeth, as well as other places of worship.

Church chairman John Lee Say Nga said this is the first of such incidents in the church’s 50-year history.

The Star Online – Kota Tinggi church splashed with paint
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/15/nation/5475190&sec=nation>

New Straits Times Online – Vandals target church with red paint
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/6redp/Article/index_html>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, kota tinggi, johor, jalan kota kechil, st elizabeth, catholic church, church, church attack, paint, penal code, vandalism, causing disharmony