Latest news with #DSG
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
StayVista Secures ₹40 Crore Investment to Expand Luxury Villa Offerings, ET TravelWorld
Technology 2 min read StayVista raises ₹40 crore from JSW Ventures and DSG to expand luxury villa network India's luxury villa rental platform StayVista has secured INR 40 crore in funding, led by JSW Ventures with participation from existing investor DSG Consumer Partners. With over 1,000 villas listed across 50 destinations, the platform has hosted more than one million guests to date. The capital will support expansion, tech upgrades, and hiring as StayVista taps into growing demand for private, premium holiday stays.
Singapore Law Watch
4 days ago
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Extradition hearing starts for Indonesian businessman in S'pore said to have bribed officials
Extradition hearing starts for Indonesian businessman in S'pore said to have bribed officials Source: Straits Times Article Date: 24 Jun 2025 Author: Christine Tan It is Singapore's first such proceeding under treaty with Indonesia that took effect in 2024. A court hearing is taking place here that will determine whether an Indonesian businessman in a high-profile corruption case will be extradited to his home country. The hearing on June 23 regarding Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, is Singapore's first such proceeding under its extradition treaty with Indonesia. Tannos, 70, has been implicated in a major graft scandal involving the Indonesian government's issuing of electronic ID cards – the e-KTP project – allegedly causing state losses of about 2.3 trillion rupiah (S$187 million). The Indonesian fugitive, who is believed to have been living in Singapore since 2017, faces one charge of corruption under Indonesian law that is punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The crux of the hearing is to determine whether there is enough evidence to support the corruption charge Tannos is facing, so he can be sent back to Indonesia. In extradition hearings, the state does not have to prove the fugitive's guilt or secure a conviction. It only has to show that there is enough evidence for the fugitive to face trial if his acts had taken place in Singapore. Delivering the state's opening statement, Deputy Solicitor-General (DSG) Vincent Leow said the state would rely on evidence submitted by the Indonesian authorities. Tannos was the president and director of technology company PT Sandipala Arthaputra, which was a member of the PNRI Consortium – a grouping of companies that won the e-KTP tender in 2011. DSG Leow said that under the alleged corruption scheme, the consortium paid 'commitment fees' to officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Indonesia (Moha), which was responsible for the e-KTP tender. Bribes were also allegedly given to members of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, or DPR-RI, who appropriated and allocated the government's budget for the project. The gratification amounted to 10 per cent of the total project value, split equally among Moha officials and DPR-RI members. According to the Indonesian authorities, Tannos eventually paid US$530,000 to a Moha officer and approximately US$3.8 million to former Indonesian politician Setya Novanto through the latter's associate. 'The Indonesian authorities' position is that the payment of these 'commitment fees' resulted in the manipulation of the decision-making process regarding the e-KTP project and tender, and that the PNRI Consortium won the tender through unlawful methods,' said DSG Leow. Chief Special Investigator Alvin Tang of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) – the state's only witness – took the stand to give evidence on how he arrested Tannos and brought him to the State Courts. Tannos sat in the criminal dock throughout the six-hour hearing. He had been denied bail, was wearing white prison garb, and was handcuffed. During the hearing, his lawyer Bachoo Mohan Singh argued that there were about 100 pages in the formal extradition request that were added after the stipulated deadline, and should hence be thrown out. Mr Singh said the additional documents, which were supplementary affidavits from the Indonesian authorities, 'appear to be manufactured'. He questioned why the additional documents were purportedly received by the Singapore authorities in April, but were given to the defence team only almost two months later. Tannos' other defence lawyer, Mr Suang Wijaya, also objected to the admission of documents prepared by the Indonesian authorities, saying they were not 'duly authenticated'. For example, the English translation of Tannos' arrest warrant did not have a stamp with official authorisation, said Mr Wijaya. He added that numerous witness statements in Indonesia were unsigned, and were not sworn by the witness or the interrogator on the day that they were taken. These show the documents breached the conditions of the extradition treaty, and hence are inadmissible in court, argued Mr Wijaya. The lawyer said that due to such 'multiple and significant irregularities', and the prejudice caused to Tannos by the delayed filing of additional documents, the extradition request should not be allowed. DSG Leow said his team – comprising State Counsels Sivakumar Ramasamy, Sarah Siaw and Emily Zhao – would be making submissions in response to the defence's arguments. The hearing continues till June 25. Tannos has reportedly been on Indonesia's fugitive list since Oct 19, 2021. He was arrested on Jan 17 by CPIB, and Indonesia put in a formal extradition request on Feb 24. The extradition treaty between Singapore and Indonesia took effect on March 21, 2024. It grants extradition for a list of offences, including corruption, money laundering and bribery, and can be retrospectively applied to crimes committed up to 18 years ago. Christine Tan is a journalist at The Straits Times reporting on crime, justice and social issues in Singapore. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Irish Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Danny Sullivan Group says no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing over worker status claims
LABOUR supply firm Danny Sullivan Group (DSG) has said an external review over claims about the misclassification of self-employed workers has shown 'no evidence of bribery or deliberate wrongdoing'. It follows claims first reported in the i paper that self-employed CIS staff supplied by the firm to work on the West Midlands section of the HS2 project were instead classified as PAYE salaried staff. As well as rejecting any wrongdoing, the company said that as part of the review, it is undertaking 'a significant programme of transformational investment'. "This ensures we can continue to satisfy ourselves and our trusted clients and partners that our best-in-class service is matched by best-in-class operational and compliance functions and controls," it added. Executive team reorganisation In its statement, DSG said that as a business with a long and reputable history, it took the allegations extremely seriously. As part of its investigation into 'the erroneous engagement of Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) workforce operatives', it commissioned an externally-led review by a leading professional services firm. "The findings and recommendations of this report have been shared with our trusted clients, and where mistakes have been made, we have and continue to put these right," it said. "This includes having taken all the necessary steps to ensure full contractual compliance. "This review was carried out in conjunction with a significant programme of transformational investment, including a major reorganisation of our executive team and functions and upgrades to the company's governance, processes, technology and culture." It added: "Throughout this process, no evidence of bribery or deliberate wrongdoing involving any employees of our business has been identified." 'Stronger and better' Addressing the issue of worker classifications under contractual agreements, DSG confirmed that it is 'fully compliant with all tax obligations, and are confident that all relevant taxes have been — and continue to be — paid'. "As a large employer and trusted partner of some of the UK's biggest infrastructure companies, we take our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of governance to all our stakeholders extremely seriously," it continued. "We are confident that our robust response and substantial investment in resolving these issues will ensure that we emerge from this situation a stronger and better company with best-in-class compliance and governance processes. "Our work continues on the landmark HS2 projects and many other critical infrastructure projects with our long-standing clients and partners across the UK." See More: Danny Sullivan Group, HS2
NDTV
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 Sets Record At Nurburgring
Volkswagen has introduced a new model in its production lineup with the Golf GTI Edition 50, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its iconic hot hatch badge. The near-production version, driven by Volkswagen test and race driver Benny Leuchter, completed a lap of the full 20.8 km Nurburgring Nordschleife in an impressive 7 minutes and 46.13 seconds. On a slightly shorter 20.6 km layout, excluding the T13 grandstand run-off, the car recorded an even faster time of 7 minutes and 41.27 seconds. The Golf GTI Edition 50 is now the fastest road-legal Volkswagen around the Nurburgring, although it still falls short of the ID.R, a 680-horsepower track-only electric prototype that recorded a lap time of 6 minutes and 5.336 seconds in 2019, which remains the all-time record for the German carmaker at the circuit. Golf GTI Edition 50: Powertrain The Golf GTI Edition 50 is powered by a 2.0-litre EA888 turbo-petrol engine, tuned to deliver 324 hp, which is about 60 hp more than the standard GTI. The engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential. The test vehicle was equipped with Volkswagen's optional Performance Package, featuring lightweight 19-inch forged wheels, Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyre, and revised suspension and chassis settings, an upgrade that Leuchter described as "the decisive factor" in the car's Nurburgring performance. Benny Leuchter testing the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 Golf GTI Edition 50: Comments Benny Leuchter further stated, "If you really want to be fast on the track known as the 'Green Hell', the car also has to compensate for the typical bumps in the ground and reach very high cornering speeds. This is exactly what the Golf GTI EDITION 50 achieves in perfection. The aplomb with which it masters the peculiarities of the legendary Nordschleife is cool: the GTI is instantly stable over the entire 20.8 kilometers." Golf GTI Edition 50: Availability Volkswagen has announced that the Golf GTI Edition 50 will officially debut on June 20, 2025, just before the Nurburgring 24-hour race. While the full specifications have yet to be released, global deliveries are expected to begin in 2026. As a limited-run, anniversary model, it is unlikely to be available in markets like India.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 revealed, celebrates 50 years of the hatchback
The Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 celebrates 50 years of the hatchback with special enhancements to the exterior and interior Notify me The Volkswagen Polo is one of the most popular hatchbacks for the automaker, and the model celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Celebrating five decades of the model, Volkswagen has launched the new Polo Edition 50 for its home market, Germany. Here's what makes the new special edition offering different. Volkswagen Polo Edition 50: What's Special? The new Polo Edition 50 gets the special Crystal Blue paint scheme with a metallic finish. There's the '50' 3D badge on the B-pillar with 16-inch 'Coventry' wheels as standard. Buyers also have the option to upgrade to larger 17-inch 'Toroso' wheels. Inside, the special edition gets dark-tinted rear windows, 'Edition 50' lettering on the front sill panel moulding and '50' lettering on the lower steering wheel trim. The cabin sports the '50' lettering on the steering wheel, while there's ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, chrome pedals, heated front seats, and more Furthermore, the Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 gets an optional panoramic sunroof, two-zone climate control, and keyless entry as part of the Plus package. The automaker has added more features as standard on the special edition, including chrome-finished pedals, ambient lighting, a black headliner, heated front seats, a rearview camera, and drive modes. Volkswagen Polo Edition 50: Specifications Powering the Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 is the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that develops 94 bhp and 175 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 5-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG automatic. The same motor is also available in a higher state of tune, churning out 114 bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque, paired with only the DSG automatic. The new Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 is priced at 28,200 euros in Germany (approx. ₹ 28 lakh) and is based on the mid-level Style trim. The offering will be produced in limited numbers. The Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 will be available in Germany in limited numbers Volkswagen India's Product Lineup Meanwhile, the current-generation Polo continues to elude India, despite the model having a cult following among enthusiasts even five years after it was discontinued. One of the bigger reasons for its absence is its large proportions that exceed the four-metre mark, which remains crucial to fall in the small car tax bracket in India. Moreover, Volkswagen has opted to concentrate on its India-centric products like the Taigun and Virtus, while bringing bigger halo products like the Tiguan R-Line and the recently launched Golf GTI. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 13 Jun 2025, 14:32 PM IST
