Latest news with #transportminister
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
From ‘moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick ‘suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister
THE death of Vladimir Putin's transport minister has raised a series of awkward questions for the dictator. Roman Starovoit, 53, was sacked by Vlad on Monday after he couldn't stop Ukraine causing mayhem to Russia's aviation industry. 7 7 But he was dead just hours later - with the circumstances unclear and conflicting details emerging about what happened. It's just the latest mystery death among Russia's elite, including many who have plunged from windows. Was the body moved? Versions of Starovoit's death from official sources were constantly changing, with initial reports saying his body had been found at home. Russian cops then said Starovoit's body was found having shot himself inside his black Tesla. But press reports and photos clearly showed a body being removed from long grass near the electric car. The motor was found in a carpark in Malevich Park in Moscow - not far from the minister's home. The minister's tearful girlfriend and assistant Polina Korneeva, 25, was brought to the scene by law enforcement to identify the corpse. She bawled her eyes out as Starovoit was removed and taken to a waiting van and DNA samples could be seen being taken. But officials did not correct the official record of where he was found. Intriguingly, CCTV cameras reportedly do not show him approaching the scene at Malevich Park where he died. Doubts over 'suicide' of sacked Putin minister after haunting pic official with gun appears VERY quickly in state media Did it happen hours after he was sacked? Starovoit's time of death is also mysterious. On Monday morning, he went into the office and held his normal meetings. Then, after being fired just after 9am, he reportedly ordered his staff to ready his official motor to leave the ministry. He then disappeared at 9.30am and was not found dead for several hours creating a gap of unaccounted time. 7 7 Despite being certain about the cause of his death, Russian cops haven't been so willing to give a confirmed time. Some Russian officials in the investigation even told local media that Starovoit died between Saturday and Sunday. Around 15 minutes after the first report the head of the Russian parliament's defence committee Col-Gen Andrei Kartapolov confirmed the death said he had died 'quite a long time ago'. But footage shows him at the ministry on Sunday in the crisis room, taking charge of the government's response to the air traffic chaos engulfing Russia from Ukrainian drones. How did cops know it was suicide so quickly? Despite all these inconsistencies, authorities pinned the death on suicide in their first statement. Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, said: 'Today in the Odintsovo urban district, the body of the former Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Roman Starovoit, was found in a personal car with a gunshot wound. 'Investigative bodies of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Moscow Region are working on the scene, establishing the circumstances of the incident. "The main version is suicide.' Yet, Sergei Markov, director of Russia's Institute of Political Studies, sensationally went on the record to suggest Starovoit had been murdered. He said: 'The Russian elite was shocked by the suicide of Roman Starovoit, the former Minister of Transport, just a few hours after Putin removed him. 'But it seems to me that those who eliminated him - that is, those against whom he could have testified after his arrest - are trying to hide his real murder by using the suicide version.' Was it tied to a mysterious corruption scandal? Starovoit was sacked amid unconfirmed rumours he was implicated in a major corruption scandal. Putin gave no reason for his dismissal, later denying he had lost trust in him. One Telegram channel alleged he died shortly before he was due to give statements in criminal cases in which he was a 'key figure'. He had been implicated in the alleged abuse of state funds earmarked for wartime border protection in Kursk region, where he was previously governor. Officials caught in corruption scandals often go to prison Was Vlad involved? Windows have become one of the most deadly places in Russia for the elites under Putin. A series of suspicious deaths hitting billionaires since 2022 has seen a number of them die in mystery circumstances. Many have been found on the street with their death ruled as having happened when they "fell out a window". But others have also died from shooting themselves in the chest five times, burning alive after falling asleep with a lit cigarette, and hacked to death with an axe. 7 7 Many of these mystery deaths have been explained as suicides despite those dying being from the elite of Russian society. Putin was 'shocked' over the sudden death of Starovoit. But the Kremlin refused to be drawn on how Roman Starovoit had died, saying it must be left for the investigation. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'This cannot but shock normal people. 'Naturally, it shocked us too.' Photos have emerged on Tuesday of Polina in a white dress, raising questions over whether the pair were set to be married. Putin has pushed Russia in a far harder conservative direction and attacked gay rights and implemented tougher hurdles for divorce. Reports said the last time Starovoit communicated with his family was two days ago. Starovoit had divorced his wife in 2021, the mother of his two children, and started a relationship with Korneeva. The dead ex-minister had a daughter 15, and son, 18.
Free Malaysia Today
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Retrofitting' rule causing confusion, even within JPJ
From David Ong Serious road accidents like the UPSI bus crash have sent shockwaves throughout the nation, which undoubtedly creates pressure on transport minister Loke Siew Fook to strengthen policy and create counter-measures. To his credit, the minister has done exactly that. A number of actions have been taken since, including requiring seat belts in express and tour buses, and the introduction of speed limitation devices in buses and other commercial vehicles. These regulations will be enforced by the road transport department (JPJ). However, what happens when a government is prompted to react quickly? Details are overlooked. One detail has caught my eye and left industry players scratching their heads, namely the new JPJ buzzword: retrofitting. For those unfamiliar, in the context of JPJ's demands, retrofitting refers to the installation of a device that was not originally installed by the manufacturer. This is a requirement set out by JPJ for vehicles that lack seat belts and speed limiters from the manufacturer. That in itself should prompt any slightly mechanically inclined person to wonder: how does one retrofit a device on a vehicle that was not designed for the said device by the manufacturer? The issue at hand is that old buses, despite popular belief, are generally not equipped with seat belts for passengers. The same goes for speed limiters for all older commercial vehicles. Imagine a humble and inexpensive 'Kei' truck (think your 'kapcai' of trucks) used by noble farmers and labourers; why would those have speed limiters from the manufacturer? Furthermore, what makes JPJ believe anyone has the knowledge to retrofit speed limiters to these vehicles? These questions remain unanswered, though they have certainly been asked, and just as quickly shut down. In a recent demonstration by Scania of how speed limiters functioned, both JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli and the minister inquired about the retrofitting of speed limiters. Simply put, the responses by the demonstrators were of two types: one was that there are undoubtedly some vehicles unsuitable for retrofitting, and the other was, let's not talk about that. It sounds almost comedic that the top people in charge of implementing road safety regulations have to ask such crucial questions at an open demonstration and press conference like ordinary journalists. There was clearly a lapse in thorough planning here. The confusion seems to also spread to the journalists, with most choosing to use the Scania diagnostic device as the cover photo for their own articles on the enforcement of speed limiter devices. Industry players are still scrambling to figure out how to meet the enforcement deadline, given that there are no feasible solutions for the retrofitting of seat belts or speed limiters. Unfortunately, the retrofitting will most likely be amateurish and rushed in nature. That is not to say retrofitting is unnecessary. However, maybe it's time JPJ reconsider its safety roadmap and enforcement action plan to be more realistic given our current capabilities. Even our close neighbour Singapore needed years to trial and study retrofitting. David Ong is an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Arab News
Families of victims in South Korea plane crash file complaint against 15 officials
SEOUL, South Korea: Families of victims of December's devastating plane crash in South Korea have filed a complaint against 15 people including the transport minister and the airline chief who they believe are responsible for the disaster that killed all but two of the 181 people on board. Police and government officials have already been investigating the Jeju Air crash, so the complaint is largely seen as a symbolic step calling for a swifter and more thorough probe. Many bereaved families complain of what they see as a lack of meaningful progress in efforts to determine what caused the disaster and who is responsible. On Tuesday, 72 bereaved relatives submitted the complaint to the Jeonnam Provincial Police agency in southern South Korea, according to their lawyers and police. The 15 people cited in the complaint include the transport minister, Jeju Air's president and airline officials handling maintenance and safety issues, along with officials at Muan International Airport who are responsible for preventing bird strikes, air traffic control and facility management, according to a statement from a lawyers' group supporting the relatives. The statement said the crash was 'not a simple accident but a grave public disaster caused by negligent management of risks that must be prevented.' 'Four months after the disaster, we can't help feeling deep anger and despair over the fact that there has been little progress' in the investigation, Kim Da-hye, a bereaved family member, said in the statement. Lawyer Lee So-Ah said Wednesday the complaint would formally require police to brief bereaved families of their investigation, though police have so far only voluntarily done so. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air skidded off the runaway at the Muan airport on Dec. 29 after its landing gear failed to deploy, slamming into a concrete structure and bursting into flames. Authorities have since said they found traces of bird strike in the plane's engines and that the plane's two black boxes stopped recording about 4 minutes before the crash. Many analysts said the concrete structure, which housed a set of antennas called a localizer that guides aircraft during landings, should have been built with lighter materials that could break more easily upon impact. But no exact cause of the crash has been announced and no one has been legally persecuted yet over the crash, the country's deadliest aviation disaster since 1997. Jeonnam Provincial Police agency officials said they've been investigating the accident. They suggested a complex incident like the Jeju Air crash would require a lengthy investigation but declined to say when they expect to wrap up their probe.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Jeju Air crash families file complaint to speed up South Korea's investigation
Families of victims of December's devastating plane crash in South Korea have filed a complaint against 15 people including the transport minister and the airline chief who they believe are responsible for the disaster that killed all but two of the 181 people on board. Police and government officials have already been investigating the Jeju Air crash, so the complaint is largely seen as a symbolic step calling for a swifter and more thorough inquiry. Many bereaved families complain of what they see as a lack of meaningful progress in efforts to determine what caused the disaster and who is responsible. On Tuesday, 72 bereaved relatives submitted the complaint to the Jeonnam Provincial Police agency in southern South Korea, according to their lawyers and police. The 15 people cited in the complaint include the transport minister, Jeju Air's president and airline officials handling maintenance and safety issues, along with officials at Muan International Airport who are responsible for preventing bird strikes, air traffic control and facility management, according to a statement from a lawyers' group supporting the relatives. Family members of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash grieve at Muan International Airport in South Korea on December 29 last year. Photo: Yonhap/EPA-EFE 'Four months after the disaster, we can't help feeling deep anger and despair over the fact that there has been little progress' in the investigation, Kim Dae-hye, a bereaved family member, said in the statement.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
Families of victims in South Korea plane crash file complaint against 15 officials
Families of victims of December's devastating plane crash in South Korea have filed a complaint against 15 people including the transport minister and the airline chief who they believe are responsible for the disaster that killed all but two of the 181 people on board. Police and government officials have already been investigating the Jeju Air crash, so the complaint is largely seen as a symbolic step calling for a swifter and more thorough probe. Many bereaved families complain of what they see as a lack of meaningful progress in efforts to determine what caused the disaster and who is responsible. On Tuesday, 72 bereaved relatives submitted the complaint to the Jeonnam Provincial Police agency in southern South Korea, according to their lawyers and police. The 15 people cited in the complaint include the transport minister, Jeju Air's president and airline officials handling maintenance and safety issues, along with officials at Muan International Airport who are responsible for preventing bird strikes, air traffic control and facility management, according to a statement from a lawyers' group supporting the relatives. 'Four months after the disaster, we can't help feeling deep anger and despair over the fact that there has been little progress' in the investigation, Kim Dae-hye, a bereaved family member, said in the statement. Lawyer Lee So-Ah said Wednesday the complaint would formally require police to brief bereaved families of their investigation, though police have so far only voluntarily done so. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air skidded off the runaway at the Muan airport on Dec. 29 after its landing gear failed to deploy, slamming into a concrete structure and bursting into flames. Authorities have since said they found traces of bird strike in the plane's engines and that the plane's two black boxes stopped recording about 4 minutes before the crash. Many analysts said the concrete structure, which housed a set of antennas called a localizer that guides aircraft during landings, should have been built with lighter materials that could break more easily upon impact. But no exact cause of the crash has been announced and no one has been legally persecuted yet over the crash, the country's deadliest aviation disaster since 1997. Jeonnam Provincial Police agency officials said they've been investigating the accident. They suggested a complex incident like the Jeju Air crash would require a lengthy investigation but declined to say when they expect to wrap up their probe.
