Corpun file 18661

New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur, 7 December 2006

Johor State Assembly

More than 10,000 foreign workers have run away since Jan 05

By Sim Bak Heng

MORE than 10,000 foreign workers have run away from their employers in Johor from January last year to October this year. Of the 10,369 who ran away during this period, Indonesians topped the list with 8,553 or 82 per cent of them failing to honour the contract with their Malaysian employers.

Replying to Chong Ah Owon (BN-Paloh), Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the rest were from Nepal (421), Myanmar (419), India (414) among others.

To a question from Onn Mohd Yassin (BN-Layang-Layang), Abdul Ghani said 3,123 immigrants had been whipped from the year 2000 to September this year for entering the country illegally via the State.

Of the total, Indonesians made up 2,521 or 80 per cent, followed by nationals of Myanmar (203) and India (113) among others.

Abdul Ghani said it was difficult to ascertain if any of the illegal immigrants were repeat offenders as they were fond of tampering with their identity documents each time they entered the country.

"However, we have implemented the bio-metric system at all entry points. The system can tell if the visitors had entered the country previously by checking on their fingerprints," he said.

Abdul Ghani also said the Immigration Act provides severe penalty including whipping on employers who harbour illegal immigrants.

However, neither employers nor tekongs in Johor have been whipped thus far.

"Tekongs are cunning. They know how to escape from the enforcement officers. However, the relevant authorities will carry out operations to checks their activities," he said.

Foreigners usually work in construction sites, estates and factories. Women usually work as domestic maids.

© Copyright 2006 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

Corpun file 18658

New Sabah Times, Kota Kinabalu, 12 December 2006

Former salesman gets seven years for syabu

Former salesman Chong Khi Cheong (pictured) covering his face with plastic bag as he was leaving the courtroom after being found guilty of possessing 39.4 grams of syabu yesterday.

The 31-year-old was jailed seven years and ordered to be given 10 strokes of the cane by the KK Sessions Court Judge Ravinthran N. Paramaguru. Chong was charged under Section 12 (2) and read with Section 39A (2) (r) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

He had pleaded not guilty to possessing the syabu on Feb16, 2004 at about 8.30am in Taman Damai, KK when he was trialed [sic] in August last year. The prosecution had called seven witnesses to testify during the trial.

Copyright © 1998-2006 New Sabah Times. All Rights Reserved.

Corpun file 18751

The Star, Kuala Lumpur, 22 December 2006

Jailed 10 years for raping teen

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men who raped a teenaged girl broke into tears in the arms of family members who came to court to hear the verdict against them.

Salesman B. Selvakumar, 26, and despatch rider P. Nandakumar, 25, were each sentenced to 10 years' jail and ordered to be whipped five times for raping the 18-year-old shop assistant.

They were ordered to serve their jail terms from yesterday.

Upon hearing the court verdict, the two bowed their heads and shut their eyes.

Shortly later, they wept when family members hugged and kissed them.

The offence was committed after midnight under a tree at the edge of Padang Merbok here on March 8, 2002.

On March 13 that year, Selvakumar and Nandakumar had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Sessions Court judge Nursinah Adzmi said she accepted the evidence given by the victim, who said she was forced to sip liquor before she was raped.

"Her clothes were removed by Selvakumar while both her hands were held by two other men. Her legs were held by Nandakumar," said Nursinah, who said the victim testified that she was slapped on her cheeks and mouth and suffered injuries to her lips when she tried to struggle and scream.

The victim, the judge said, told the court that two men, referred to as Mamak and Singh, had fondled her breasts and kissed her lips.

The judge ruled that the victim was not willing to have sex with the two accused and did not have any reason for revenge.

"The court also considered the evidence given by the victim's sister who confirmed that the girl (victim) had come back to their house and appeared pensive, weak and quiet. She stayed in a room for 15 minutes and later cried and confided about the rape to her sister, without any force from anyone," the judge said.

Nursinah said the two accused had pulled and carried the victim with the help of their friends to the place of incident for the rape.

She said both accused also could not raise any doubts in the prosecution's case and that their defence was mere denial.

The court had ordered the duo to enter their defence on July 18. Seven prosecution witnesses testified.

In mitigation, lawyer Kamarul Zaman Abdul Rahman asked the court to give the two a chance to turn over a new leaf as this was their first offence.

DPP Othman Yusof pressed for a deterrent sentence saying that the court had to consider the inhuman act done by the two and the trauma suffered by the victim.

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