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Malaysia ex-premier Muhyiddin arrested by anti-graft body

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, has been arrested by anti-graft authorities over alleged misuse of public funds meant to fight COVID-19. He is expected to face multiple charges relating to corruption and money laundering in court on Friday. Muhyiddin, who served as prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, now leads an opposition coalition against the current government. His supporters claim that the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit his party ahead of state elections in July.

Published

2 years ago

on

by M Jegathesan

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA — Malaysia’s former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was arrested briefly on Thursday after anti-graft authorities questioned him for alleged misuse of public funds meant to fight COVID-19.

Muhyiddin, who was prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, at the height of Malaysia’s battle against the coronavirus, is expected to be slapped with multiple charges in court on Friday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement.

He now leads an opposition coalition against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government after failing to muster enough support to return to power following general elections in November last year.

Muhyiddin, 75, visited the MACC office earlier Thursday, a day after he was summoned by the body.

The agency later said Muhyiddin was arrested and will be held overnight pending the filing of the charges. He was then let off on bail.

He was questioned as part of an investigation into irregularities relating to an economic stimulus package — introduced by Muhyiddin when he was prime minister — to help the country recover from the effects of the pandemic “and related matters”, MACC said.

The former leader will face “a number of charges” relating to violation of laws against corruption and money laundering, the statement said.

He could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted but is likely to be out on bail while the case is being heard.

The MACC had earlier launched a probe into the alleged misuse of pandemic funds by Bersatu, his political party.

It froze Bersatu’s bank accounts last month, and two leaders of the party have been charged with bribery related to the stimulus programme.

Muhyiddin has denied any wrongdoing and his supporters say the probe is meant to discredit Bersatu ahead of state elections in July.

‘Political harassment’

About 100 supporters gathered outside the MACC building and shouted their support for Muhyiddin as he arrived earlier in the day.

“The summoning of Muhyiddin is political harassment,” Bersatu senior member Baba Deni told AFP.

“The idea is to tarnish his image as he is the president of Bersatu. It is also to sabotage the party’s popularity among young voters.”

Premier Anwar, who denied interfering in the investigations, has alleged that billions of dollars in Covid relief funds were disbursed without proper procedure while Muhyiddin was in office.

Muhyiddin rose to prominence during the tenure of former prime minister Najib Razak, who is now serving a 12-year jail term for corruption linked to the plunder of state investment firm 1MDB.

He fell out with Najib in 2015, when he was sacked after criticising the government over the 1MDB scandal.

Muhyiddin later joined a party set up by former premier Mahathir Mohamad and helped to oust Najib and his party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Then in a volte-face typical of Malaysia’s turbulent politics, he joined hands with UMNO again to win enough support to become premier.

— AFP

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AFP

Singapore hangs 14th drug convict since last year

Singapore executed Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, convicted of drug trafficking, amid a resumption of executions in 2022. Another woman prisoner, Saridewi Djamani, faces execution.

Amnesty International urged Singapore to halt the executions, questioning the deterrent effect of the death penalty.

Published

1 year ago

on

26 July 2023

By

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE — Singapore on Wednesday hanged a local man convicted of drug trafficking, officials said, two days before the scheduled execution of the first woman prisoner in the city-state in nearly 20 years.

Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, convicted and sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking “not less than 49.98 grams” (1.76 ounces) of heroin, was executed at Changi Prison, the Central Narcotics Bureau said in a statement.

The 57-year-old was the 14th convict sent to the gallows since the government resumed executions in March 2022 after a two-year pause during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hussain’s previous appeals against his conviction and sentence had been dismissed, and a petition for presidential clemency was also denied.

A woman drug convict, 45-year-old Saridewi Djamani, is scheduled to be hanged on Friday, according to the local rights group Transformative Justice Collective (TJC).

She was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams of heroin.

If carried out, Djamani would be the first woman executed in Singapore since 2004, when 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, according to TJC activist Kokila Annamalai.

Singapore has some of the world’s toughest anti-drug laws — trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis or over 15 grams of heroin can result in the death penalty.

Rights watchdog Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Singapore to halt the executions, saying there was no evidence the death penalty acted as a deterrent to crime.

“It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control,” Amnesty death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said in a statement.

Singapore, however, insists that the death penalty has helped make it one of Asia’s safest countries.

Among those hanged since last year was Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, whose execution sparked a global outcry, including from the United Nations and British tycoon Richard Branson, because he was deemed to have a mental disability.

— AFP

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AFP

Singapore to execute first woman in nearly 20 years: rights groups

Singapore set to execute two drug convicts, including first woman in 20 years, despite rights groups’ calls to stop.

Published

1 year ago

on

25 July 2023

By

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE — Singapore is set to hang two drug convicts this week, including the first woman to be sent to the gallows in nearly 20 years, rights groups said Tuesday, while urging the executions be halted.

Local rights organisation Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) said a 56-year-old man convicted of trafficking 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of heroin is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday at the Southeast Asian city-state’s Changi Prison.

A 45-year-old woman convict who TJC identified as Saridewi Djamani is also set to be sent to the gallows on Friday. She was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams of heroin.

If carried out, she would be the first woman to be executed in Singapore since 2004 when 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, said TJC activist Kokila Annamalai.

TJC said the two prisoners are Singaporeans and their families have received notices setting the dates of their executions.

Prison officials have not answered emailed questions from AFP seeking confirmation.

Singapore imposes the death penalty for certain crimes, including murder and some forms of kidnapping.

It also has some of the world’s toughest anti-drug laws: trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of heroin can result in the death penalty.

At least 13 people have been hanged so far since the government resumed executions following a two-year hiatus in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rights watchdog Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Singapore to halt the impending executions.

“It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control,” Amnesty’s death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said in a statement.

“There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs.

“As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapore’s authorities are doing neither,” Sangiorgio added.

Singapore insists that the death penalty is an effective crime deterrent.

— AFP

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