Ex-Sabah Police Chief Acquitted

Former Sabah Police Commissioner Ramli Acquitted

KOTA KINABALU:The Sessions Court here Monday acquitted and discharged former Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Yusoff on a charge of ordering the use of a police aircraft for his personal interest two years ago.

"The prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case and the accused deserves to be acquitted and discharged," judge Supang Lian said.

Ramli, 56, was charged on Nov 19, 2007 with abusing his power as Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Department director for his pecuniary gain by ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him on an aerial surveillance of two lots in Ulu Tungku, Lahad Datu, in which his real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had an interest.

The offence was allegedly committed at about 7.50am on June 15, 2007 at the Sabah Police Air Unit, Tanjung Aru near here.

Ramli pleaded not guilty to the offence which, upon conviction, carries a jail term of not more than 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 under Section 15 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, and was released on bail of RM20,000 with one surety.

The prosecution, represented by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutors Kevin Morais and Joyce Blasius, called 75 witnesses in a 59-day hearing between May 13 last year and July 6 this year.

Ramli was represented by Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and James Tsai.

-- BERNAMA

Sabah Unmo Youth leader head arrested by MACC?

Sabah Umno Youth Datuk Japlin Akim and an UPKO member had been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), a source told Daily Express in Kota Kinabalu today.

Japlin, who is Usukan assemblyman and Sabah Infrastructure Development Assistant Minister the other leader were said to have been picked up from their respected houses by MACC officers from Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur..

They were subsequently brought to court and were remanded for three days to facilitate investigations.

A journalist of the local newspaper contacted Sabah MACC director Haji Jalil Jaffar but was told that he was not aware of details about the arrest of the duo as it was carried out by MACC officials from Puterajaya.

The youth leader was among the Umno members found guilty on March 17, 2009 of political corruption by the Umno Disciplinary Board headed by Tengku Rithaudeen Tengku Ismail and was suspended from Umno for three years.

Eventhough suspended from Umno, Sabah Chief Minister and State Umno chief Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman had said that Japlin could keep his seat as well as his Assistant Minister post.

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Sabah politician again!!!

Another Sabah high-ranking politician comes under ACA scrutiny

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues: Another high-ranking Sabah politician has come under the scrutiny of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for alleged bribery involving almost RM60 million.

Bernama learnt that the probe on the 48-year-old politician began after the Sabah ACA received 23 reports from a branch leader of a political party last month, pertaining to the matter.

It is learnt that the suspected politician was a former chairman of a housing development company.

Bernama learnt that the Sabah ACA had seized files and documents from the company recently, and recorded statements from several senior officers of the company to facilitate the probe.

It is learnt that the politician had influnced and bribed few senior officials of the housing development company to obtain housing projects under a construction company which he owned.

Bernama also learnt that most of the projects obtained by the politician did not meet the dateline upon completion. Some of them were stalled due to dire financial straits.

The said politician had also allegedly used his power to give sub-contracts to his proxies, which included some high-ranking politicians.

The proxies returned the favour by ’rewarding’ the politician with millions of ringgit.

The complainant in the case, who wanted to be identified only as Zul, said he had sent an official letter to the political party’s supreme council to take futher action against the errant politician.

“In the letter, I had clearly stated the offences committed (by the politician). I hope the ACA will conduct a fair probe into his wrong-doings which were committed since 2004,” said Zul.

Zul said he had also lodged a report at the Semporna police station early last month on the matter.

Bernama also understands that the complainant had made a statutory declaration at the Semporna Magistrate’s Court last month on his ACA and police reports. — BERNAMA


My Say:

When a similar reports was widely published in all the newspapers earlier this month, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal responded openly declaring that `May be I am the one'.

Will the politician indicated in this latest report do the same?

Politically motivated says Labuan MP

Political agenda behind allegation, says Labuan MP
By Joniston Bangkuai and Roy Goh HERE

In what can be considered a rarity among VIPs, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Yussof Mahal has come out to say that he may be the high-ranking Sabah politician being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency for alleged abuse of power, forgery and bribery.

Referring to a news report on the matter, Yussof said he felt he should give an explanation to "clear my good name as Labuan MP and Labuan Umno deputy chief".

Confirming that he was awarded contracts to build a RM24.8 million market and a RM10.5 million school in Labuan, he claimed that he secured the contracts through open tender and that he was the lowest bidder.

"Is it a crime for a company to secure a government contract by making the lowest bid, so much so that I am being investigated by the ACA?" he said in a statement faxed to the New Straits Times office in Kota Kinabalu.

Yussof also denied that he had cheated a Kuala Lumpur sub-contractor hired to build the Labuan market.

On the allegation of forgery to secure a bank loan, he claimed that it was mere slander and he would lodge a police report soon so that the culprits could be brought to justice.

"I believe there is a political agenda behind the allegation because it was raised at a time when the Labuan Umno division election, in which I have offered to contest the chairman's post, is just around the corner," said Yussof, adding that the threats and allegations would only serve to spur him to work harder for Umno and the Labuan people.

The ACA has refused to divulge the name of the politician being investigated for alleged abuse of power, forgery and bribery in a bid to secure three contracts worth RM40 million in Labuan.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the agency was still investigating the allegations and urged the people not to make any assumptions.

He said the case was being investigated by the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya and its Sabah office.

Ahmad Said was speaking after the opening of the agency's new branch office at the Federal House in Keningau Sabah Tuesday. Also present were Bingkor assemblyman Justin Guka and state ACA director Latifah Mohd Yatim.

According to a Bernama report, a 51-year-old senior politician is being investigated by the ACA for allegedly bribing officers at the Federal Territories Ministry to help his firm win contracts.

The police Commercial Crime Investigation Department and Bank Negara are also probing the politician in connection with the three contracts.

ACA DG confirms investigation

Up-date to my two earlier posting on ACA and Kota Kinabalu Umno Division

Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the agency was still investigating the allegations and urged the people not to make any assumptions.

He said the case was being investigated by its Sabah office.

Ahmad Said was speaking after the opening of the agency's new branch office at the Federal House in Keningau Sabah Tuesday. Also present were Bingkor assemblyman Justin Guka and state ACA director Latifah Mohd Yatim.

Ahmad Said said the Kota Kinabalu ACA had met with two Umno members in connection with allegations of money politics during the party's ongoing branch meetings.

The two members met the officers in Kota Kinabalu on Monday to assist investigations, he said.

PM says investigate them

ACA Allowed To Investigate Money Politics In Umno, Says Abdullah


SERDANG, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is allowed to investigate cases involving money politics in the run up to the Umno election in December.

Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, said however they concerned certain cases which enabled the ACA to take action.

"The Umno headquarters had decided and allowed the ACA to come in and investigate," he told in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday.

He said this when asked to comment on a report that a 'Datuk' who is an Umno division head, and the division secretary in Sabah had been interrogated by the ACA yesterday following allegations that they were involved in money politics.

The duo, who are in their 50's, were said to have offered several Sabah Umno branch leaders RM1, 500 each to secure nominations for the divisional election in October.

He said he had not been informed about the person involved and it was possible that there were certain aspects that required the ACA to come in.

Money politics

Two leaders of the Kota Kinabalu Umno Division were detained by Sabah Anti-Corruption Agency for investigation into money politics during the on-going party's elections.

A member of the division alerted me this in a SMS last night.

Several members of the division are scheduled to call for a Press conference at Restoran Sempalang, Sembulan near Kota Kinabalu today to expose about money politics in the division.

Head of the Umno Jalan Tangki Karamunsing Branch Dr Datu Akjan Datu Ali Mohammad confirmed during the Press conference that two top leaders of the Kota Kinabalu Division were detained by ACA on Monday for involvment in money politics.

Datu Akjan claimed that the leaders allegedly give money between RM200 and RM1,000 to members as 'gift' and to arrange for the election of members from the two leaders'camp

He called on the party's leaders to take action against the two division leaders arrestd by ACA. Datu Akjan said the two leaders should be suspended from the party with immediate effect.

Corruption

Sabah politician probed over RM40m contracts

KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is closing in on a high-ranking Sabah politician for alleged abuse of power, forgery and bribery which allowed him to get three contracts worth about RM40 million in Labuan.

Bernama learnt that the politician had allegedly bribed officers at the Federal Territories Ministry, which gives out tenders, to help his engineering firm get the contracts.

In addition, the 51-year-old man is also suspected to have forged documents relating to contracts to obtain an RM8 million loan from a bank in Kota Kinabalu to settle his debts and make progress payments to sub-contractors hired by him for the three contracts concerned.

Bernama also learnt that Bank Negara and the Sabah Commercial Crime Department had instructed their officers to investigate why the bank in Kota Kinabalu had released RM8 million to the politician without proper documentation.

Sabah ACA director Latifah Mohd Yatim declined to comment.

It is also known that several files belonging to the politician, who holds a high-ranking position in a government agency in Labuan, were seized by ACA investigators recently.

Bernama learnt that the Sabah ACA would record the politician's statement soon and wrap up the case for action.

Meanwhile, an official in a federal agency in Labuan said the Sabah ACA had informed him of the investigation and the agency was looking into the matter.

"They recorded my statement last Saturday and we are ready to help the Sabah ACA in its probe.

"We will bring this matter to our board of directors soon.

"We are not going to compromise on the (politician's) wrongdoing," he said, adding that the agency had not yet decided on the action to be taken against the politician.

Bernama learnt that the politician also had ACA and police reports lodged against him by a Kuala Lumpur-based sub-contractor, who was given a contract to build a RM20.5 million market in Labuan. Eventually, the sub-contractor suffered losses amounting to about RM500,000.

The 28-year-old man, who wanted to be identified as Eric, said he lodged a report against the politician at the Sabah ACA headquarters on July 29 before lodging a police report at the Kamunsing station in Kota Kinabalu the following day.

He said he was awarded the contract to build a market in Labuan and received a letter of acceptance (LA) from the politician's engineering firm early this year.

"However, the LA was incomplete and I asked him for a proper documentation.

"The politician was reluctant to do so, saying that I should trust him as he was a well-known.

"I have all the evidence to prove that the politician had misused his power.

"He asked me to begin the construction without signing any documents and only made an initial payment of RM200,000.

"I trusted him and he promised me that he would pay the balance.

"However, on July 14, he sent me a letter of termination of the RM20.5 million contract without notice," said Eric, adding that the politician had made a new agreement with another party to build the market.

He is thinking of suing the politician.

Fish fry only....

When talks of an impending court case of which it was said officers from the State Welfare Services Department are to be charged with corruption, it was anticipated that someone high up in that State Department's being hauled up to the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court Tuesday.

But it was an anti-climax, to a big turned out of journalists from the print and electronic media. Came 2pm, five people were seen making their way to the court which at first was not even `looked at' by the media corp. But the five were those being charged before two Sessions Court judges.

The offences: Falsifying documents by certifying the payments of cash welfare assistance to recipients who had long passed away. Two of the accused were staff of the Treasury Department, Penampang while the other three were attached to the State Welfare Services Department, Tuaran.

My say:

The five are just `fish fry', the biggest fish and followers are still `swimming' happily in the ocean looking for more opportunities. It was learnt that investigations are going on against those higher up in the department.

ACA should also look into the case of goods bought and supplied to the State Welfare Services Department's Welfare Home in Kimanis, Paper.

An example of questionable dealing - six units of cutting knives which cost RM120 in the market was supplied to the Home at RM3,000. Some people here had made RM2,880 profit. Is this not corruption, robbing the government in daylight?

RM20 knife charged for RM120

Somewhere in the Auditor General Reports dated June 28, 2007 reported that a ministry bought a set of four screwdrivers for RM224 compared to the market price of just RM32.

These AG's report also touched on Sabah's case of the State Welfare Services Department paying cash assistance to people who had passed away long time ago.

Though not in the AG's report, digging deep into this department will also revealed that it had purchased a set of four knives at a contracted price of RM120 each which amounted to RM3,000 for the four units.

Amazing, the market price for this knives is RM20 each which mean that the department was overcharged or overcharged itself of/for RM2,880. The four knives should have cost RM120 only.

My Say:

Just the tip of the iceberg.

Deads still paid $$$

The Auditor General reports stated that 20 people in two districts who had passed away are still receiving monthly cash welfare assistance from the State Welfare Services Department. Out of the 125 recipients in the district of Kota Belud, 13 were found to have died. Seven of the 57 in Keningau had passed away.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Yahya Hussin said a thorough investigation would be conducted by the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry. There are some 14,971 recipients of the cash allowance throughout the State.

My Say:

Just a tip of the iceberg. I am optimistic that if the AG reports had also been carried out in all the districts, the figures would be greater. It is impossible that officers entrusted to manage the assistance not to know or aware of this matter. There must be `prawn at the other side of the stone' (ada udang disebalik batu).

Corruption higher up

Reading through the newspapers while having my breakfast this morning, I found that in almost each pages carried reports on corruption involving people holding high posts in the civil services.

Report from Ipoh, stated that a Syariah High Court senior judge was arrested by Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officers yesterday for allegedly involved in corruption. He was said to have accepted RM4,200 bribe to settle two cases pending hearing in his court.

In Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz want the former country's police chief Tan Sri Hanif Omar to provide details of allegations of police corruption to ACA.

Hanif had on Aug 12, told the Press that a senior police officer had confided in him that 40 per cent of senior officers in the police forces could be arrested without further investigations - strictly on the basis of their lifestyles.

Nazi, who was replying to question from Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, said Hanif would be irresponsible if he do not give the information he received to the ACA.

In Kuala Lumpur, a former Road Transport Department's director was charged with four counts of corruption.

My Say:

Since time immemorial, the power of money has and will forever be great. ACA must cast its net extra-wide now.

Corruption and Sabah teachers

Speaking to Grade 48 education officers at the closing of an integrity management workshop in Kota Kinabalu yesterday (Aug 22), Sabah Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director Latifah Md Yatim said 18 per cent of the teachers in Sabah were involved in corruption. She said majority of them were head of schools.

There are 35,000 teachers and about 1,300 schools in Sabah.

Sensing that journalists were present at the function, the director moved on to other subjects in her speech. Speaking to reporters after the function, Latifah told them not to quote her on the `corrupted teachers'.

My Say:

Corruption is everywhere, its a way of life. It is corruption when parents gave extra money to their children when asking them to buy something from the shop. It is from here gratification take root and grow.