Latest news with #RM10.3mil
The Star
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Five, including a datuk, charged with illegal deposit taking
SHAH ALAM: Five individuals, including a woman with the title of 'Datuk', were charged with taking deposits without a valid license and money laundering for four years at a Sessions Court on Tuesday (July 1). Datuk Suhaila Semaru, 41, her sister, Suraya Semaru, 37, brothers Muhammad Wahbah Az-Zuhaili Mohd Ariffin, 33, Muhammad Syaabil Ajwad Mohd Ariffin, 26, and Mohamad Noor Syauqi Shafiee, 30, plead not guilty and requested for trial when the charges were read to them separately in front of Judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir. Suhaila as XFOX Market Sdn Bhd director faces 22 counts of receiving, obtaining and owning an estimated RM13mil from the illegal activities, while Suraya as chief executive officer faces 10 charges of obtaining, owning and transferring a total of RM11.1mil in funds. Mohamad Noor Syauqi is charged with obtaining and owning RM2.5mil from illegal activities, Muhammad Wahbah Az-Zuhaili faces seven charges of receiving, obtaining and using RM10.3mil, while Syaabil Ajwad faces seven charges of receiving and one charge of disposing of RM58mil of funds from illegal activities. They allegedly committed the offences under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act, at various bank branches around Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Subang between November 2021 and July last year. At the same proceeding, Suhaila, Suraya and Mohamad Noor Syauqi pleaded not guilty to another charge of agreeing to accept deposits from the public without a valid licence. They are charged with committing the offence at the XFOX office in Subang Bestari from Nov 12, 2021 to July 30, 2024, under subsection 137(1) of the Financial Services Act 2013, read together with subsection 249(1)(a) and punishable under Section 137(2) of the same Act. The prosecution, led by Nurdeenie Abd Rashid and Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Afendi, suggested RM1mil in bail for all the accused with the condition that they surrender their passports while lawyer Mohd Haziq Dhiyaudin Razali requested a reduction, pointing out that his clients cooperated fully with Bank Negara Malaysia during the investigation and had no risk of flight. Muhamad Anas allowed bail of RM100,000 for each of the accused with the condition of one surety and that their passports would be surrendered till the end of the case and set case re-mention for Aug 6. - Bernama
The Star
19-06-2025
- The Star
RM10.3mil in illegal e-waste seized in Sabah crackdown
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities seize more than RM10.3mil worth of illegal e-waste and detain 44 individuals in Sabah. The joint enforcement operation, codenamed Ops Hazard 2.0, was carried out on Monday (June 16) across 16 locations identified as hotspots for unlawful e-waste collection and handling. Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the raids were conducted in multiple districts, including Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Tuaran, Keningau, Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu and Sandakan. 313 personnel were involved in the integrated operation, representing various agencies, including the Environment Department, Customs Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Labour Department, local authorities and the Health Ministry. 'From the operation, 44 individuals were detained – 23 local men, five local women, and one child. We also arrested 10 men and five women from the Philippines and Indonesia,' he said in a statement on Thursday (June 19). Investigations revealed that all raided premises were illegally buying and collecting e-waste without proper authorisation or compliance with environmental laws. The seizures included a wide range of discarded electronic and electrical items, with the total value estimated at RM10.3mil. Abdul Rani said several offences were detected during the operation. These included violations of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and its subsidiary legislation, the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, for the illegal handling and storage of scheduled waste. Other offences were committed under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for the presence of undocumented foreign nationals, the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for illegal trading activities, and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 for non-compliance with public health regulations. Additional breaches involved the Food Act 1983, the Fire Services Act 1988, the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap. 67) for employment violations, and the Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948 for operating without valid business licences.
The Star
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
MPAJ: No foreigners on frontline
FOREIGN workers are still manning counters at businesses in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, although this is not permitted, says Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ). Its president Dr Ani Ahmad reminds business owners that foreigners are prohibited from serving in frontline roles, including at service counters. She said MPAJ would be sending out reminders on the ruling to operators. 'This is a needed reminder as there are many instances where we find foreign workers manning the counters,' she said during the local council's monthly full board meeting at Menara MPAJ yesterday. Licensing and Entrepreneurial Development Department director Addy Hissham Elias said only foreign workers with valid Immigration Department permits were allowed to work in any business. 'Even with a valid permit, they are not allowed to work in frontline positions like manning the counter. 'Only the business owner or a Malaysian employee is allowed to handle transactions. 'If violations are found, enforcement action can be taken,' he said. Their response came after councillor Engku Faizan Azhar Che Engku Husin urged MPAJ to clarify its position following a new directive from Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) banning foreign workers from operating or working at food stalls and kiosks under its jurisdiction starting June 1. MBDK states that only Malaysians are allowed to work at stalls and kiosks, regardless of whether the foreign workers had valid immigration permits. On another matter, Ani said MPAJ recorded a 30.47% rise in assessment tax collection this year, with RM44.3mil collected as of March 31. This is a RM10.3mil increase in collection compared to the same period last year, she added. Based on MPAJ's 2025 Budget, Ani said the local council aimed to collect RM93mil in current assessment tax. 'The Revenue Department has taken action against defaulters by issuing Form E for assessment tax arrears for April in commercial and residential areas. 'This involves 566 accounts with total outstanding arrears amounting to RM556,976.93.' The areas include Taman Pandan Perdana, Taman Bukit Pandan, Taman Mawar, Taman Bukit Permai, Kampung Cheras Baru and Taman Ukay Perdana. 'An assessment tax operation in Taman Melawati on April 23 recovered RM13,454.80 of the total RM43,795.50 in outstanding arrears,' the council chief disclosed. At the close of the meeting, Ani said this was her final full board session as MPAJ president, as her tenure ended on April 30. 'I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to council members and all MPAJ staff for their support throughout my two years here. 'I hope the efforts to enhance MPAJ's tax and non-tax revenue, as well as its Endowment Fund, will continue in the future. 'There have been many memories and valuable experiences during my time at MPAJ, which I will carry with me to my next posting,' she said. Ani was appointed MPAJ president in May 2023. Prior to that, she was the former district officer of Hulu Langat.
