Malaysia Crime Watch

24 March 2008
Petaling Jaya

A 26-year-old foreigner was arrested by police on Saturday at 2pm in Kajang after he was found to have sent a short message claiming to have abducted missing 5-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar. In the message, the IT engineer demanded RM25,000 for Sharlinie’s safe return to her family.

Sharlinie has been missing since 9 January 2008 when she went to a playground near her home in PJS2, Taman Medan.

The suspect has been in the country with valid travel documents since 29 January 2008. Police picked him up after the person he forwarded the message to reported to the police.

Police has remanded the suspect until Wednesday.

The Star Online – Foreigner held over SMS on Sharlinie
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/24/nation/20734014&sec=nation>

MCW – Sharlinie Missing: Reward Money Offer Ends 29 Feb
<URL:http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/2008/02/sharlinie-missing-reward-money-offer/>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, petaling jaya, taman medan, missing child, missing person, abduction, sharlinie, sharlinie mohd nashar, search, kelana jaya, false sms, short message

23 March 2008
Johor Baru

Officers from the Federal Police and Johor anti-vice, gaming and secret society division raided two entertainment outlets in Taman Sentosa on Saturday midnight and arrested 58 foreign women suspected of vice activities.

The police team first raided a karaoke nightclub just after midnight and nabbed 35 Thai women and one Indonesian. Some of the rooms were found to have mattresses, suspected to be used for vice.

A nearby karaoke outlet was later stormed into and 14 Thai women, 6 Filipinos and 2 Indonesians were caught.

In addition to the women aged between 19 and 33 years, police also found secret passages leading to hideouts at both outlets. Nearly 100 men had their statements taken.

The Star Online – 58 foreign women nabbed in vice raid
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/23/nation/20080323165029&sec=nation>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, johor baru, taman sentosa, vice, foreign women, karaoke

22 March 2008
Kuala Lumpur

A 40-year-old housewife denied in court yesterday when she was accused of abusing her 23-year-old Indonesian maid four years ago. Yim Pek Ha, mother of four, was charged with three counts of causing grievous hurt to Nirmala Bonat at the Villa Putra condominium using an electric iron and hot water between January and April 2004.

Yim is also charged with voluntarily causing hurt to Nirmala with a metal cup at the same premises on 17 May 2004.

The former chief stewardess said there was no reason for her to hurt Nirmala and suggested that she may have inflicted the injuries upon herself to gain attention.

Another possible motive that Nirmala might have had was money as Yim’s husband had post-dated six cheques meant as Nirmala’s salary and had given them to Nirmala’s maid agency. Yim had threatened to deduct Nirmala’s salary because Nirmala had damaged some of Yim’s belongings in the condominium.

Yim argued that if Nirmala wanted to escape or alert others, she could have called the maid agency or approached neighbours or visitors. Nirmala even had chances to escape as she goes out of the apartment to dispose rubbish and clean the outdoor area daily.

To determine if Nirmala had mental problems and had inflicted the injuries upon herself, Yim applied to court for the maid to be sent for a psychiatric evaluation.

The hearing continues on Monday.

The Star Online – Yim denies injuring ex-maid’s breasts
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/22/courts/20723924&sec=courts>

New Straits Times – Nirmala Bonat case: ‘Maid could have sought help’
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2192988/Article/index_html>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, kuala lumpur, villa putra, causing grievous hurt, causing hurt, abuse, maid, indonesian