Sharon Stone received death threats

Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone has revealed that she faced death threat over her charity work. The Hollywood actress claimed that people accused her of seeking publicity when she began raising money and volunteering. "When I started doing charity work, people thought I was only doing it for press," Sharon told Life & Style. "They called me the new Zsa Zsa Gabor. "The adversity was awful. My life was threatened - someone wanted to kill me. It was serious. I know what it's like to be bullied, but charity work is meaningful to me, so I didn't give up." Describing the incidents as a "hard time" in her life, the star added: "I had to be careful. People wanted to hurt me." But she will never be a quitter. Sharon says feels blessed that her public profile is a "gift" that has "created so much good". Source: www.lifeandstylemag.com Published May 22 2012

Shah Rukh is not sorry over cricket brawl

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is not nicknamed King Khan for nothing. The Don 2 star said he will not apologise for a recent brawl at a cricket match in the Wankhede Stadium. Telling his side of the story on the alleged brawl with Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials, Shah Rukh refuted suggestions that he was inebriated, saying he was instead angry about the way he was treated. The actor, who is facing a lifetime ban from the stadium by the MCA, told NDTV: "I was being bullied. I was angry, but I was not drunk." In its police report, the MCA said Shah Rukh was drunk, manhandled guards and abused a female spectator. The star denies the allegations, but admitted that he did use abusive language under provocation.He claimed that his children were "physically manhandled in the name of security" and intends to file a written complaint against the MCA. "I would not like to go to a stadium where people behave so high-handedly. I took little children for the match and 40 grown-up people came charging aggressively at me. "I think my behaviour is absolutely correct. I would still do the same thing if they misbehaved with my kids or kids that I am taking care of," the actor said. An MCA official has accused Shah Rukh of making "false statements and using his children to gain sympathy". Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk Published May 21 2012

Kayveas ordered to pay CTOS RM170,000 after losing defamation suit

KUALA LUMPUR: Former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri M. Kayveas was ordered on Tuesday to pay RM170,000 to private company Credit Tip Off Sdn Bhd (CTOS) and three others after losing a defamation suit in the High Court here. High Court judge Justice Rosilah Yop awarded CTOS and three other plaintiffs RM120,000 in general damages and exemplary damages of RM50,000. "In awarding these exemplary damages, I take into account that the defendant, in his position as a deputy minister given a mandate by citizens, cannot simply make statements without taking their truth into account, which could cause the Plaintiffs to suffer embarassment," Justice Rosilah said in her grounds of judgement. The judge also ordered Kayveas to pay cost and to pay interest at 4% per year from Jun 25, 2007 to the present and interest at 8% after that until payment was complete. In September 2007, CTOS together with CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd, CTOS-EMR Sdn Bhd and CTOS Business Systems Sdn Bhd had filed the suit against Kayveas for alleged defamatory statements made by him about the companies, which were reported in local newspapers between June 25 2007 and July 15 2007. In her grounds of judgement, Justice Rosilah said Kayveas had made statements with the tendency to cause a reasonable man to have a negative opinion of the plaintiffs, and lower the plaintiff's reputation in the eyes of the public. According to her, the statements, in their ordinary and natural meaning, imputed that the plaintiff's business activities jeopardised the safety of the nation, the plaintiffs carried out illegal business, and had carried out their role as information brokers dishonestly. among other things. She rejected Kayveas's defence of fair comment. "From the evidence presented, I find the statements which defamed the Plaintiffs were not in the public interest, but were made and published by the Defendant out of malice masked as public interest." Justice Rosilah said in her grounds of judgment. "For those reasons, the defence of fair comment does not stand." She also did not accept Kayveas's alternate defence of qualified privilege. Source: The Star

Woman seeks divorce citing hubby’s extreme sexual demands

A WOMAN in Singapore who says she still loves her husband has filed for a divorce - claiming that she can no longer meet his extreme sexual demands. Sin Chew Daily reported that the 49-year-old clerk was fed up with her husband of 25 years who would demand for sex at least three times a day. She said her husband, who is in his 50s, would get angry and sometimes hit their son when she rejected his sexual advances. “I can no longer take it. He would get very angry if I reject him. “Once, I refused to have sex with him because I was too tired and he hit our son who had just turned one-month old,” recalled the woman. The couple married in 1987 and have three children. The woman said her husband would also compare her sexual performance with his ex-girlfriend whom he claimed would have sex with him 13 times a day. “His words really hurt. He would get angry and yelled at me whenever I rejected him,” she said. The woman decided to file for divorce even though she still loved her husband, “I cannot continue living like this. My children are grown up, and that is why I have asked for divorce,” she said. > China Press reported about a mentally challenged girl who was molested by four youths at her house in Cheras last Thursday. The youths had entered the girl's house, took RM200 from a cupboard before asking the victim, who was alone at that time, to go to a room “to play a game with them”. Luckily, the victim's aunt happened to drop by the house and found the victim, who was only wearing a shirt, in the room with the youths. A police report had been lodged and the police had detained all four youths. Source: The Star

Umno leaders shooting themselves in the head

Cannon: The inquiry panel formed to probe Bersih 3.0 has yet to meet and the regime is proffering charges against de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Azmin Ali already? One former inspector-general of police (IGP) has alleged that Bersih 3.0 is an attempted coup by the people to overthrow our government. (Anyway, a coup by the masses is an oxymoron.) Another ex-IGP claims communists are at work behind the scene, then changes his theory to say, the conspirators are not exactly communist, but are communist-like using Marxist methods. The public is both confused and amused. Which version is true? As with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, it's ready, fire, aim! This gonzo of Bolehland never ceases to amaze us with another of his hilarious clown shows. Hisham will surely help his cousin to pluck defeat from the jaws of victory in GE13. Bad Feng Shui: This confirms what the rakyat already knows - Umno has no idea how to deal with Anwar. Anonymous_3e21: Please do not show how scared you are in dealing with Anwar. You can do better than that. Sodomy, sex and so on, and now this. We rakyat are already fed up as the more pressing and important issues are left unattended and yet the obsession with Anwar continues. Even if you put Anwar behind bars, do you think the rakyat will be brave enough to vote for Pakatan Rakyat? Look around and compare between Umno and Pakatan, and you will see the difference so clearly. No matter how weak Pakatan is, we rakyat think it is all right to give them a chance for at least one term. Anwar or no Anwar, it does not matter to us. Hang Tuah PJ: The elections are round the corner. They will charge Anwar and Azmin and find them guilty, thus disqualify them from standing for election. Fumes: The is a desperate, silly move. Umno will lose more votes. They were already limping badly having shot themselves in the foot. They have now decided to shoot themselves in the head to kill the pain. The Time Is Now, Get Ready: What we all saw was very clear and even an idiot can see it, and I assume that not many around will believe that Anwar had nothing to do with the riot, or least the cause of the breach of the barriers. All of you should be concerned that you are going to pick a leader that will gladly send people into harm's way, allow them to be injured and other unknown situations, simply to serve his cause. Let him deny in court what actually happened. Malaysian Born: Really? After all that has happened, to try to use such lame terms of reference to charge them is really quite unacceptable. This is not the way to win over the rakyat. It isn't going to intimidate anyone either, these are not 10-year-olds in short pants who participated in the rally in spite of all manner of threats and difficulties. The fact is that most people participated despite knowing that tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons would be used on them without rationale and justification. In spite of threats and all manner of intimidation, they all turned up for the rally. Frankly, the numbers cannot be ignored. Whichever fool of a strategist advising these court actions really has no clue of the reality on the ground. The people are moving, you either find out why and which direction so that you can align yourself or they will walk through you and send you into oblivion. There is no point in getting upset at the protest, it's the will of the people and a powerful wake-up call. Anonymous #06500451: Why not just charge all the 250,000 protesters on 428 (April 28)? Including those protesting in 80 cities over the world, bring each and everyone to the court, show the world what kind regime BN is and to further demonstrate Malaysia's version of world's best democracy. Whatsup: Another dirty trick unbecoming of a government supposedly elected by the rakyat. Why stoop so low? With the sodomy case out, are they trying to pin another one on Anwar? All those Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) thugs who could be clearly seen brutalising peaceful Bersih 3.0 participants in videos are not charged at all, other than two lonely thugs. Righteous: The opposition leaders then have the right to say they were charged with organising a protest to seek clean and clean elections. Wow, charged for seeking clean and fair elections, never heard of such a thing. The guy being charged sure sounds like the good guy, doesn't he? Anonymous #43051382: Now raise hand also get charged. This is truly a 1Funny Malaysia, full of cartoon characters. Yours Truly: Now the AG (attorney-general) needs to look for a body language expert to interpret the hand gestures of Anwar and Azmin. Source: MalaysiaKini

Scorpene case: French lawyers apply for work visa

French lawyers representing Suaram in the human rights group's suit against defence giant DCNS for alleged corruption involving top Malaysian officials will be coming to the country to brief their client about the case. Source Malaysia Kini

Anwar claims trial to Bersih 3.0 charge

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, along with party deputy president Azmin Ali and former party supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin are to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with participating in a street protest under the Peaceful Assembly Act. Source Malaysia Kini

Firemen saves RM300,000 from going up in flames

Firemen in Malacca found RM300,000 in cash while putting out a fire at a premise believed to be used as a store for illegal firecrackers and fireworks at Jalan Penghulu Abas near the Malacca Customs Academy on Monday. During the 7.45am incident, the house was gutted by fire but its occupant, a man in his 60's managed to escape. Deputy Director of Melaka Fire and Rescue Department Sohami Mohamed said seven fire engines from the Bukit Katil, Ayer Keroh and Jalan Kubu Fire Stations were deployed to the location after receiving a distress call at 8.02am. "The firemen took about 30 minutes to douse the fire which also caused explosions due to the presence of fireworks," he told reporters. He said initial investigations revealed there were fireworks, believed to be illegal, stored in two rooms of the single storey house. Jalan Kubu Fire and Rescue Department Chief Yazid Mohd Tahir, who led the operation said firemen found a bucket filled with RM300,000 in cash while putting out the fire. He said the cash was then handed back to the owner of the house. Source: Bernama Published May 21 2012

Reporter caught with skirt up on live TV

Bloomberg reporter Sara Eisen was left red-faced last week after being caught with her skirt hitched up around her thighs on live TV. Colleague Sheila Dharmarajan was having sound issues, so the camera suddenly panned across to the financial expert, catching her off guard. Eisen, who appeared to be adjusting her microphone, quickly pulled her skirt down. She laughed off her wardrobe malfunction and blamed it on “technical difficulties”, quickly continuing to deliver a report on the Eurozone crisis. The clip has since become a hit online. - Digital Spy

Man chops off realtor's arm with samurai sword

A Japanese man chopped off the arm of another man...with a samurai sword. He also wounded two other employees. Hifumi Kuwada was charged with attempted murder of Katsumi Jitskata, a real estate president and two workers with a 70cm blade. Kawada has pleaded guilty to the charges. He reportedly hid the samurai sword inside a golf bag before going on a rampage. He then escaped in a car but was caught and arrested. Police suspect that the attack was motivated by business interests. According to The Japan Times, Hifumi Kuwada runs a construction company and ordered Daikyo Home to work on an apartment building project. Source: RT.com Image: Reuters Published May 21 2012

Mentally ill woman gives birth in food market

She was a familiar sight to the residents of Baiyun district in Guangzhou, China. For the past few months, the mentally unsound and homeless woman had been seen haplessly wandering around the Longgui Food Market, with a big belly that indicated that she was pregnant. The residents were recently shocked by what they found. With the umbilical cord still attached, she appeared out of an alley next to the food market carrying a filthy little infant. According to residents, she appeared mentally unsound, but refused hospital assistance. Beijing Shots reported that she even walked nearly 6km carrying her newborn baby. She later used scissors to sever the cord, leaving it strewn on the road in front of the market. Since the birth of the infant, she neglected to clothe him. When thirsty, she simply left the naked infant on the muddy ground whilst she collected water from a roadside ditch using a plastic bag. Whether the child had been fed is also disputable. A hospital worker who tried to persuade her to feed the child was refused. The woman then took the infant to a public toilet adjacent to the market where she used to live. Source: www.asiaone.com Published May 21 2012

Transgender Miss Universe Canada contestant loses

The first-ever transgender contestant to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant strutted the runway on May 19, making it to the penultimate round before losing her bid to win the title. Jenna Talackova, 23, competed with 61 contestants and was among the final 12 contestants before failing to make the final five in the glitzy pageant. Sahar Biniaz, 26, claimed the crown and advances to the international Miss Universe competition in December. Talackova, who was one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality, was born a male and underwent a sex change four years ago. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native was initially denied entry to Canada's pageant because she was not born female. Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, subsequently overruled that decision last month. The 6-foot-1 (1.8-meter-1 centimeter) blond beauty, who towered over her fellow contenders while competing in the bikini and formal wear contests, garnered most of the attention Saturday night, soliciting loud cheering and howls each time she appeared on stage. Talackova's involvement in the pageant has drawn international attention since being denied entry and hiring high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred to represent her in her battle to be readmitted. The rules of the contest run by Trump's New York City-based organization say entrants must be "naturally born" females. But shortly after Talackova announced a news conference in Los Angeles with Allred, the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement on its Canada website that Talackova can compete "provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions." Miss Universe organizers have not elaborated on the statement. Allred said during Saturday's pageant that Talackova shouldn't feel too disappointed. "She's still a winner as far as I'm concerned," Allred said during an intermission. "She won an 'herstoric' civil rights victory and that I think is frankly more important than anything, any victory she would win, even representing Miss Canada." Talackova is the child of a Czechoslovakian father and aboriginal Canadian mother. She has said that she knew early on she was in the wrong body. Her change of gender was hardly a secret before the event because she had competed in the 2010 Tiffany Miss International Queen Competition for transgendered and transsexual women in Pattaya, Thailand. In a video interview for that pageant, she said she had lived her life as a female since age 4, began hormone therapy at 14 and changed her sex at 19. The controversy surrounding her participating in Miss Universe Canada erupted this spring after a blogger recognized her from the transsexual beauty contest in Thailand and posted about it. Miss Universe publicity director Brenda Mendoza has said transgender competitors are now welcome at all of its pageants around the world. But she says it's being left to the individual franchises to determine if the recent policy change is carried out. Source: AP Image: AP Published May 20 2012

Wanted M'sian thug shot dead

A wanted thug was shot dead, and a policeman injured, in a running gun-battle at the 249.2km East Coast Highway (LPT) near Jabor in Kuantan, Pahang early Saturday. Earlier during the encounter, Chiang Hon Hing, 39, who was armed with a pistol, had fired in the direction of a police team which ordered him to surrender. The police returned fire, hitting him in the abdomen in the incident about 1.10am. Chiang, of Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, who was linked to car-jackings and drug trafficking, was sent to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. Lance Corporal Mohd Jarizan Md Jid who was injured in the right hand during the gun-battle, is recuperating at the hospital. Pahang police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said, prior to the shootout, Chiang had abandoned a car before hijacking a Kuantan-bound LPT patrol car from two traffic personnel at the Lanchang toll plaza. Source: Bernama Published May 20 2012

Masks of the afterlife

Visitors to Jinsha Site Museum in China never fail to be impressed by a gold mask taking pride of place in the exhibition hall on the second floor. It is one of many ancient masks excavated from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha Ruins in Sichuan province. According to Zhu Zhangyi, the deputy curator of the museum in Chengdu, these masks are unique to the area. About 3.7 cm tall and 4.9 cm wide, they are very thin and the gold mask exhibited in the museum is believed to be more than 3,000 years old. "The gold mask was not donned by a living person. Instead, it was affixed to a bronze human head or a wooden human head," Zhu says. Some scholars believe the bronze head represents the soul of a dead ancestor while others hold the opinion that it is the image of a necromancer and the bronze head is probably that of a high-ranking shaman. Despite the diverse views, the certainty is that the bronze heads were worshipped by ancient Sichuan people, who believed that they were channels to higher beings and would afford protection. It was also an indication of the advanced level of witchery and religion during the Shu Kingdom, according to Zhu. Shu is the ancient name for Sichuan. Masks are closely linked with witchery craft. They are widely used by many ethnic groups in sacrificial ceremonies and holiday celebrations or when they pray for a better harvest. As gold masks have been excavated only in Sichuan, some scholars think they might have been influenced by Western Asian civilization. Between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago, a large number of gold ornaments appeared in Egypt and Western Asia. They quickly spread along the Mediterranean Sea to Central Asia and South Asia. It is very likely that gold masks also found their way into the Chengdu Plain through India and Central Asia. - China Daily Published May 20, 2012

Woman, 73, oldest to scale Everest

A 73-year-old Japanese woman has climbed Mount Everest, smashing her own record to again become the oldest woman to scale the world's highest mountain. Tamae Watanabe launched her final assault on the treacherous upper slopes of Mount Everest from an altitude of 8,300 metres on Friday night, said Ang Tshering Sherpa of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association. Around 7am the next day, Watanabe, along with Japanese mountaineer and photographer Noriyuki Muraguchi and three other team members, reached Everest's 8,850-metre-high summit from the northern side of the mountain in Tibet. "Watanabe and the other team members are in good condition and are on their way back to the base of the mountain," Sherpa added. Watanabe left Katmandu for the mountain last month but had to reschedule her summit plans twice because of fickle weather that was plaguing the upper slopes of the mountain. She initially wanted to push for the summit on Tuesday but strong winds around the upper slopes forced her to reschedule the plan. The retired office worker had climbed Everest in 2002 at the age of 63 to become the oldest woman to scale the mountain. Source: AP / The Times of Japan Published May 20, 2012

China's most-wanted fugitive gets life in jail

Lai Changxing, once China's most wanted fugitive who spent 12 years on the run in Canada, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of smuggling and offering bribes. The verdict, by the intermediate court of Xiamen in Fujian province on Friday, also ruled that Lai be forfeited all his personal income and be deprived of his political rights for life. It is unknown whether Lai has appealed. Lai, born in 1958, was the head of a smuggling ring that dated back to the 1990s in Xiamen. He fled to Canada with his family in 1999 after authorities cracked down on the syndicate. Lai was repatriated to China last year. According to the court, the value of smuggled goods reached 27.39bil yuan (RM13.56bil) and Lai's company evaded nearly 14mil yuan (RM6.9mil) in taxes. Lai established companies in Hong Kong and Xiamen in 1991 and recruited accomplices. The group smuggled cigarettes, cars, petroleum, cooking oil, chemicals, equipment and other goods past Xiamen Customs between December 1995 and May 1999. Lai bribed 64 government officials between 1991 and 1999 with cash, assets and cars worth more than 29mil yuan (RM14.35mil). The investigation and trial lasted from August 1999 to April 2001, during which more than 300 people were indicted, including 14 death sentences. Thirty-one criminal suspects connected with Lai's smuggling operation have been sent back to China from overseas since April 2001. Lai arrived in Canada, which doesn’t have the death penalty, in 1999 on a tourist visa and had been seeking refuge status. - Source: Xinhua Published May 19, 2012

Cops claim trial to using force on pressman

Two policemen claimed trial at the Magistrate's court to using criminal force on a pressman during the Bersih 3.0 rally. L/Kop Mohd Khairul Asri Mohd Sobri, 30, and Kons Shahrul Niza Abd Jalil, 24, pleaded not guilty to using criminal force on Guang Ming Daily photographer Wong Onn Kin, 33. The offence allegedly occured at around 5.20pm to 5.30pm on Apr 28, at the intersection of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja in Kuala Lumpur. The accused are believed to be from the Tanjung Malim and Dang Wangi police headquarters respectively. They were charged under section 352 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of three months imprisonment, fine, or both. DPP Mohd Farizul Hassan Bakri asked for a bail of RM5,000. Lawyer Salim Vashir, for the accused, asked for a lower amount to be imposed, saying the two were not a flight risk. He added that both came from poor families. Magistrate Zulkpli Abdullah set bail at RM3,000 with one surety and June 18 for next mention. Source: The Daily Chili Published May 19, 2012

Some Japanese men too shy to lose virginity

About 15% of Japanese men have never had sex. The men, aged between 30 and 40, feared being laughed at by women who are generally more sexually experienced. A professor from Japans Meiji University said Japanese women had become more sexually active than men in the last decade. Some of them were even below 20 years old. This resulted in men preferring to remain as virgins. He said many men with limited sexual knowledge felt inferior and did not dare pursue women. This subsequently has lead to many of them remaining unmarried and old-aged virgins. Source: Kwong Wah Yit Poh Published June 18, 2012

Boyfriend gets stuck in rubbish chute

Of all the escape routes one could pick, a boyfriend decided a rubbish chute would be ideal. In a desperate attempt to get out of an argument with his girlfriend, the 31-year-old man was said to have thrown himself down the waste disposal from the eighth floor of an apartment in the city of Tyumen. He only managed to fall three floors down before getting trapped and started crying for help. Rescue workers had to use an electric saw to cut the metal and extricate the victim. Then they passed him to a waiting ambulance team. It was not clear what the argument was about or whether the girlfriend was present at the rescue. Tyumen police say this is not the first time they have had to rescue someone from a rubbish chute. Source: Agencies Published May 18, 2012

Peeping Tom avoids prison

A fast food restaurant manager at The Gold Coast, Australia, who filmed his female staffers changing for work, has avoided prison time. Leigh Shannon Dauncey, 21, made recordings using a hidden miniature camera in the changing room of the Elanora McDonald's restaurant. However, he was only sentenced to two years' probation as he had shown deep remorse and had been condemned for his actions. Dauncey said he was disgusted in his actions and hoped he could be forgiven. "I'm truly, deeply sorry," he said. "It was just a stupid, stupid time of my life. "I had a promising career at McDonald's - I was a manager at 19 and now I have lost all that. "I only hope it hasn't affected them (the girls) as much as it has affected me." Also, Dauncey's young age helped him avoid a prison sentence. Source: The Courier-Mail. Image: The Courier-Mail. Published May 18 2012

Search on for man who stole from dying victim

The police are searching for the man who was spotted stealing money from a dying victim of the horror Ferrari crash that killed three people in Singapore. Eye-witnesses said that they saw a man who looked to be in his 30s picking up notes and coins scattered around the mangled taxi while the Japanese victim lay helplessly in the vehicle. 57-year-old Lim, a cleaner from Malaysia, told Lianhe Wanbao that the woman, who was later identified as Shigemi Ito, was crying out in pain while the man pocketed the money and ran off. The suspect is believed to have been dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. Reports said the man pocketed about S$300 (RM720) in all. Lim was not able to react in time to stop the man, the report said. Footage from the Land Transport Authority's surveillance cameras has been viewed and seized for the investigation, The Straits Times reported. Ito was later brought to the Singapore General Hospital where she died. Ma Chi, 31, who was driving the Ferrari, died at the scene while the taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock, 52, also died later at the hospital. The horrific accident also injured Ma's female passenger and a motorcyclist. The police are calling for other eye-witnesses to the accident to come forward to assist in the investigations. They can do so by contacting the Traffic Police at 1800-547-1818. The police assured the public that all information will be kept confidential. Those who have information regarding the theft are encouraged to come forward, and may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000. Source: The Straits Times/ANN Published May 18 2012

S'pore cop jailed for sex with suspect

A Singapore police officer first failed to comply with the instructions of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to issue a warning to a Chinese national working here illegally. He then had a sexual relationship with the 29-year-old woman. On Wednesday, Senior Staff Sergeant Lim Yew Chuan - a police veteran of 13 years - was jailed two weeks under the Police Force Act. He had pleaded guilty to neglecting his duty and disobeying police general orders that prohibit any interaction that might suggest personal self interest in the exercise of his official powers. Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Goh told the court that police had arrested Jiang Qingfeng and three Vietnamese women for working without valid work permits at karaoke lounge Club Armani on Jalan Sultan on Dec 12, 2009. At first, Jiang, who was here on a student pass, admitted to working at the club as a freelance hostess since her arrival that October. In a later statement, she changed her tune and said that she was at the club with friends to have fun. Lim, 32, was appointed the investigating officer of her case and in January 2010, he recommended that no action be taken against Jiang as she was not working illegally as a hostess. However, the following month, the AGC instructed him to issue a stern warning to Jiang and the three Vietnamese women and to refer them to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for repatriation. Source: The Straits Times/ANN Published May 17 2012

Foreigners to hang for drug trafficking in M'sia

Three Mexican brothers were sentenced to death by hanging in Malaysia on Thursday for their part in a methamphetamine production operation. The Gonzalez Villarreals - Luis Alfonso, 44, Simon, 37 and Jose Regino, 33 - were convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to hang by the Kuala Lumpur High Court along with a Malaysian and a Singaporean. The two others sentenced to death were Malaysian Lee Boon Siah, 47, and Singaporean Lim Hung Wang, 55. The suspects were arrested at a factory in southern Malaysia in 2008, with police seizing almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of methamphetamine and chemicals used to produce the drug. "The court finds all five accused are guilty of the charge against them," High Court Judge Mohamed Zawawi Salleh said, announcing the verdict. "All five accused were aware and were involved in the activity of drug making... The offence is serious," he added. Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia, though executions are not publicly announced and activists say few people are thought to have been hanged in recent years. The five men's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict, which can take years to go through the Court of Appeal and if necessary the Federal Court. The three brothers, who come from Mexico's northern Sinaloa state, are believed to be the first Mexicans sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Malaysia. The three, wearing jeans, T-shirts and sandals, handcuffed to each other and each carrying their belongings in a white bag, looked ashen-faced and shaken after the verdict was read out. "We are very sad. We thought we are going to be acquitted," the eldest, Luis Alfonso, said in Spanish. Lawyers for the Mexican brothers had argued that the evidence was tampered with. The accused testified they were merely workers taken to the premises to clean them and were unaware of any illegal activity. Juan Manuel Gonzalez, the deputy chief of mission at the Mexican Embassy, said his government respected the verdict and would continue to monitor the appeal process. "We respect the Malaysian legal system. The only thing we want is that the rights of these three Mexicans are respected, and they have a fair and transparent trial," he told AFP. Source: Agencies Published May 17 2012