Malaysia Crime Watch

9 April 2009
Shah Alam

Counsel for murder victim and Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, Karpal Singh, said that the suspect or suspects and motive for the murder are still uncertain. He said that Altantuya’s father, Dr. Shaariibuu, would proceed to apply for a judicial review of the Attorney-General’s decision not to file an appeal against the acquittal of co-accused Abdul Razak Baginda on 31 October 2008.

Murder-accused 32-year-old Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and 36-year-old Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were both sentenced to death by the High Court.

On Thursday morning, High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yassin read the judgement to the two Special Action Force (UTK) officers while several family members were present. He only spent time reading the last four pages of his 283-page draft judgement.

Azhar, is represented by Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Hasnal Redzua Merican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal. Azilah is represented by two counsels, Datuk Hazman Ahmad and J. Kuldeep Kumar.

Later, Azilah’s 32-year-old fiancee Nur Azila Baharuddin said they accept the court’s decision and have put their marriage plans on hold. They have been dating since 2004 and were engaged in 2006.

The high profile trial broke several records as 84 out of 198 witnesses testified and the trial taking 165 days to complete proceedings. Azhar has been in the Sungai Buloh Prison for 895 days while Azilah spent 891 days.

Lawyers Datuk Hazman Ahmad and Hasnal Rezua Merican both said they would be filing appeals against the ruling for Azilah and Azhar respectively.

Mongolian language translator Enkhjargal Tsetsgee was also present at the High Court and had sent a text message to Altantuya’s father when the judgement was passed.

The Star Online – Altantuya murder: Motive remains unclear, says Karpal
<URL:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/9/nation/20090409181944&sec=nation>

The Star Online – Altantuya murder: Calm despite death sentence
<URL:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/9/nation/20090409143659&sec=nation>

The Star Online – Altantuya murder: It’s death for Azilah and Sirul (Update2)
<URL:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/9/nation/20090409093431&sec=nation>

New Straits Times Online – It’s the gallows for Azilah, Sirul
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2527879/Article/index_html>

MCW – Altantuya Murder Trial: Verdict Set April 9
<URL:http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/altantuya-murder-trial-verdict-set-april-9/>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, shah alam, murder, trial, death, altantuya, shaariibuu, altantuya shaariibuu, abdul razak baginda, baginda, azilah hadri, sirul azhar, death sentence

8 April 2009
Kuala Lumpur

A Mat Rempit gang known for robbing pedestrians and youngsters waiting at bus stops has been nabbed after a string of raids in Cheras last month. Known as the Balang gang, some members were detained last August for robbery but the 19-year-old leader laid low before recruiting new members and committing crime in January this year.

The gang was usually active between 8pm and 3am and targetted areas of Cheras and Kajang. Police have linked at least 15 robbery cases with the gang but there are more cases that go unreported.

Another related gang, called Gang Inal, was nabbed. They were suspected of stealing car parts and motorcycles.

The raids conducted by the police also included the gang’s headquarters in Taman Cheras Utama. Police recovered knives, machetes, motorcycles and stolen cheque books and car stereos. The 13 members who were arrested were aged between 16 and 22 years.

The Star Online – Gang’s reign of terror ends
<URL:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/8/nation/3649709&sec=nation>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, cheras, taman cheras utama, kajang, kuala lumpur, robbery, mat rempit, balang gang, gang inal

7 April 2009
Kuala Lumpur

Six Nigerians, who are studying at a private college here, are part of a syndicate that has been cheating foreigners into applying for non-existent jobs at DiGi through the Internet.

The syndicate would send e-mail bearing the DiGi letterhead to foreigners from Britain, Pakistan, India, Dubai and the Philippines, duping them into job vacancies in the telecommunications company. The victims were then instructed to deposit RM3,500 as processing fees including immigration, lodging and transportation.

A local woman from Puchong, believed to be the girlfriend of one of the Nigerians, had been providing the syndicate her bank account number for the deposits.

Police from the Commercial Crimes Investigations Department were alerted of the syndicate’s activities when DiGi lodged a police report after receiving complaints from affected 30 foreigners.

The Nigerians and the woman were arrested later.

The Star Online – Six Nigerian students held
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/7/nation/3646246&sec=nation>

New Straits Times Online – Woman and 6 Africans held over job scam
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/2525542/Article/index_html>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, kuala lumpur, nigerian, syndicate, cheat, scam, digi, job vacancy