Latest news with #239


The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Porn VCDs, fake money among case items destroyed by cops
Brickfields OCPD ACP Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood attends disposal of case items at IPD Brickfields Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Case items worth RM721,239, including pornographic VCDs, counterfeit currency and mobile phones, have been disposed of by police following the conclusion of legal proceedings. Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the items were seized in raids conducted by the Brickfields Criminal Investigation Department and Commercial Crime Investigation Department from 2017 until this year. 'A total of 138 investigation papers were opened, involving offences such as vice-related activities at massage parlours, illegal gambling and entertainment outlets,' he told reporters at a disposal ceremony here yesterday. ACP Ku Mashariman said the items were disposed of in accordance with legal procedures following the conclusion of trials and sentencing of the suspects. 'This process not only ensures compliance with the law but also helps free up storage space and prevents theft or misuse of case items,' he added. 'One of the major cases involved the seizure of US$400,000 (RM1.6mil) in counterfeit US currency,' ACP Ku Mashariman said. 'We busted a group of foreign nationals last year who attempted to sell the fake notes by offering an exchange to ringgit at lower rates.' The suspects had packaged the forged currency in sealed plastic to make it appear genuine. 'They were later convicted and sentenced to a year and three months in prison,' ACP Ku Mashariman said.

Barnama
5 days ago
- Barnama
Fake Currency, Crime Items Worth Over RM700,000 Disposed Of
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Brickfields police have disposed of case items worth RM721,239, including counterfeit US dollars linked to a foreign exchange fraud syndicate, with items dating back as far as 2017. Brickfields District Police Chief ACP Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the disposal involved 124 completed criminal and commercial crime investigation papers. 'A total of 47,906 criminal case items with an estimated value of RM630,565 were disposed of, while commercial crime cases accounted for 1,325 items valued at RM90,674,' he told a press conference at the Brickfields District Police Headquarters here today. Among the items disposed of were RM9,833 in cash and large quantities of seized goods, including those linked to gambling, unlicensed entertainment outlets, prostitution and illicit massage centres. Ku Mashariman berkata antara kes itu melibatkan seorang warga asing yang terlibat dalam penipuan pertukaran wang pada tahun lepas dan suspek menggunakan USD400,000 wang palsu untuk memperdaya mangsa yang mahu menukar mata wang. Ku Mashariman said one of the more notable cases involved a foreign national who carried out a currency exchange scam last year. The suspect had attempted to deceive a victim by using USD400,000 in counterfeit currency. 'We arrested the suspect and seized USD400,000 in fake banknotes. He was charged in court, sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, and will be deported to his home country,' he said. He added that the main purpose of the disposal exercise was to ensure that all case items are lawfully destroyed in accordance with legal provisions, to reduce storage burden and to minimise the risk of theft from long-term storage.


The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Cops dispose of more than RM720,000 worth of case items including fake cash, porn VCDs
KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM721,239 worth of case items, including pornographic Video Compact Discs (VCDs), fake cash and mobile phones have been disposed of by the police. Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the items had been seized in raids by the Brickfields Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) from 2017 until this year. "The case items were seized and subsequently 138 investigation papers (IP) were opened. "Among the cases were from anti-vice raids on massage parlours, as well as illegal gambling and entertainment outlets," he told reporters during the the case disposal ceremony on Friday (July 25). The case items were being disposed of following the end of the legal process, which ended in the conclusion of trials and sentencing of the suspects, he said. "The disposal of the case items is in line with legal procedures and processes. "It will also free up space in our evidence storage and prevent any theft of case items or any of it going to the wrong hands," he added. Among the items being disposed of were pornographic VCDs, contraband, mobile phones, forged cash and computers, ACP Ku Mashariman said. "The forged cash seized was worth US$400,000 (RM1.6mil). We busted a group of foreigners last year trying to sell these notes, claiming they could exchange US dollars to ringgit at a lower rate. "The suspects would wrap up the cash in plastic, to make it seem that the dollar notes were real. "The suspects were subsequently charged and sentenced to a year and three months in prison upon conviction," he said.


The Star
25-05-2025
- The Star
Domestic travel the main draw at Penang MATTA Fair
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair this year is seeing exhibitors focusing on domestic destinations in support of Visit Malaysia 2026. Besides attractive local destinations, international travel packages are also available at the two-day fair, which kicked off at the Setia SPICE Arena yesterday. Thousands of visitors turned out as early as 10am on the first day, eagerly waiting in line at the main entrance to get into the Arena, where various tourism packages were up for grabs. Among the first-time visitors to the fair were Nabila Salam and her husband Muhamad Wafi Ahmad Musrab, both 29, and their baby. 'We heard that the Penang MATTA Fair is offering great domestic travel deals this year, so we decided to check it out,' said Nabila. The account administration executive shared that she and her husband were planning a trip to Sabah next year and were browsing for the most affordable travel packages available. She added that family-friendly tour options, particularly those that include island-hopping and nature excursions, were among their top preferences. 'We're hoping to find a package that balances relaxation with some adventure, maybe something with a mix of some time at the beach and cultural activities,' she said. Engineer Muhamad Wafi expressed interest in child-friendly deals that include accommodation and transportation. 'Travelling with a baby means we need convenience. If meals, airport transfers or guided tours are included, that's a big plus,' he said. Administration executive Joan Tan and her friend Summer Yeoh, both 30, want to look for the best bargains before deciding where to go. 'Actually, we are planning for Japan, but there are so many other interesting destination packages on offer here,' said Tan. Yeoh said they still had one more day to look for good and affordable packages. 'We will look around first before deciding where to go, but Japan will definitely be our first option,' she added. Exhibitors are looking forward to a rousing response from visitors. An exhibitor from Kota Kinabalu, Wilrialyn William, said one of the most sought-after packages in Sabah is the five-day, four-night Kundasang package, available for RM1,516 to RM1,239 per person. 'This ground package includes a visit to Jambatan Tamparuli, Kundasang, Desa Farm and island-hopping to Manukan and Sapi islands,' she said. The sales and reservation executive, 42, said there are also three day, two-night packages worth less than RM300 for Malaysian citizens. Travel tour company manager Nurin Afrina Batrisyia Mohd Khairul Nizam, 21, said there are plenty of international travel packages offered by her company. 'Among the popular destinations are Turkiye, Vietnam, Japan and Yunnan in China,' she said, adding that the packages are priced between RM1,000 and RM8,000 depending on the destination. She noted that Europe is also a popular holiday choice, with favourite destinations including the Balkan region and Central Europe. MATTA Penang chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said the first day of the event was positive, with visitors lining up at the entrance from as early as 10am. 'We expect some 45,000 visitors to attend the two-day event,' she said. Leong noted that visitors can look forward to various packages for domestic tourist destinations such as Sabah and Sarawak, with direct flights from Penang through Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Regarding international travel packages, she said China is expected to be a major market, driven by the recent implementation of visa-free policies. Industry observers anticipate a surge in outbound travel to China. State tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai launched the start of the fair yesterday. In his speech, he highlighted an important new feature at this year's fair – the Domestic Tourism Zone – which was being introduced for the first time. 'It's a great initiative to help more Malaysians explore the beauty of our own country. 'Local tourism has great potential, and this zone gives it the space and attention it deserves,' he said. This year's fair features 258 booths by 90 exhibitors, covering 7,427sqm on two levels of the Arena. Among the participants are 60 tour and travel agencies, the Uganda Tourism Board, 11 hotels and resorts, a theme park and an airline company.

Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amid Operational ...
Revenue: INR9,329 crores for Q3 FY25. EBITDA: INR1,712 crores with a margin of 18.4% for Q3 FY25. EBITDA per Tonne: INR1,048 for Q3 FY25. Operational Costs: INR4,618 per tonne for Q3 FY25. Energy Costs: Reduced by 7% due to better fuel management. Transportation Costs: Declined by 6% to INR1,239 per tonne. Cash and Cash Equivalents: INR8,755 crores as of December 31. Net Worth: Approximately INR63,000 crores. Ready-Mix Plants: Reached 100 with eight new plants commissioned in Q3 FY25. Limestone Reserves: 631 million tonnes secured in Q3 FY25. Green Power Share: Increased to 21.5% from 15.8%. Lead Distance: Reduced by 4 kilometers to 85 kilometers. Direct Dispatch: Increased by 700 bps to 57%. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with BOM:500410. Release Date: January 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) achieved a revenue of INR9,329 crores, driven by strong focus on micro market management strategy and expansion of dealer network. Operational costs for the quarter decreased due to a 7% decline in energy costs, attributed to better fuel management and increased use of green power. The company commissioned a 200-megawatt solar power project in Gujarat and secured 631 million tonnes of new limestone reserves. ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) plans to expand its cement capacity to 140 million tonnes by FY28, with several new facilities and expansions underway. The company is making significant progress in its ESG commitments, aiming for net zero by 2050 and increasing the share of green power in its operations. EBITDA per tonne was reported at INR1,048, with concerns raised about the operational performance and cost structures of newly acquired assets. The company faced higher costs due to shutdowns for maintenance and retrofitting at several plants, impacting overall performance. Realization per tonne decreased sequentially, with challenges in maintaining premium pricing amidst market conditions. The integration of newly acquired assets like Penna and Sanghi is still in progress, with current utilization levels below optimal. There is a significant increase in other expenses, partly due to consolidation of new acquisitions and higher consumption of stores and spares. Q: Why has the operating performance dropped significantly this quarter, especially in terms of EBITDA per tonne? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: The volume growth was strong at 16.7%, but the inclusion of Penna and Sanghi volumes, which have higher cost structures, impacted overall costs. Additionally, several plants were under maintenance, affecting inventory and costs. We expect improvements as these assets ramp up to higher utilization levels next year. Q: Can you explain the sequential drop in realization despite industry price hikes? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: The drop is due to the consolidation of sales from markets with depressed prices, particularly in the South. The price increases in December will reflect more in Q4 results. Q: What is the current cost differential for Penna and Sanghi compared to traditional capacities? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: Currently, costs for Sanghi and Penna are about 10% to 15% higher than Ambuja's. We expect to reduce these costs by implementing various initiatives, including waste heat recovery and alternate fuels. Q: How do you view the industry supply curve and its impact on pricing? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: Indias demand is expected to grow at 8%, requiring additional capacity. While new capacity additions may create short-term pressure, responsible capacity building is necessary to avoid higher consumer prices. We expect pricing to stabilize as demand catches up. Q: What is the expected timeline for receiving the INR4,500 crore incentives? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: These incentives are expected to be received over the next seven to nine years, contributing approximately INR500 crore annually. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio