Page 499 - Law Crime
Najib Razak to go on trial over 1MDB corruption charges
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is set to go on trial on Tuesday, faces years in prison if he is convicted on charges relating to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund scandal.
Singaporean salon manager jailed for abusing Myanmar maid
A Singaporean woman who abused her Myanmar maid by forcing her to pour hot water on herself, pulling her hair out and hitting her was jailed for three years on Monday. Singapore is home to almost 250,000 maids, mostly from other parts of Southeast Asia, who head to the tiny but wealthy city-state to earn far higher salaries. Beauty parlour manager Linda Seah, 39, was convicted last month for the abuse inflicted on Phyu Phyu Mar in 2016. The mistreatment detailed in six charges included two instances when the maid was forced to pour hot water onto her left shoulder, leaving her with burn marks and blisters. Seah also forced her to drink "water adulterated with floor cleaner", according to the charges. On one occasion she shook the maid by the hair until some of it came out, and on another, hit her repeatedly in the head with a mobile phone. The Singapore court heard that Seah was unhappy as she felt her employee was slow in completing her chores. But handing down the jail sentence, ...
Kerala Women's Commission files case against CPI(M) MLA for remarks against IAS officer
The Kerala Women's Commission Monday registered a case against CPI(M) legislator S Rajendran for his remarks against Devikulam Sub-Collector Renu Raj. The Devikulam lawmaker had made the remark on February 8 after the young IAS officer tried to stop the unauthorised construction of a shopping complex in the tourist town of Munnar in Idukki district. Commission sources said the case was registered on the basis of media reports about the MLA's purported remarks against the official. Television channels had aired visuals showing the legislator making the disparaging comments that the sub-collector lacked brains, had no powers to intervene in the construction as building rules comes under the panchayat. "She doesn't have brains. She studied only to become a collector. Such people will have only so much brains. Should she not study the sketch, plans. A collector cannot intervene in a panchayat construction," the MLA had reportedly said on Friday after revenue officials tried to stop the ...
SC slams states who failed to appoint state Lokayuktas yet
The Supreme Court on Monday slammed those states which had not appointed state Lokayuktas yet in the appointment of Lokpal Lokayuktas petition.Nagaland government will file an affidavit explaining the delay in appointment of Lokayukta till next hearing while the Tamil Nadu Government was directed to complete the process of Lokayukta appointment within four months.Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, "We want to be harsh but are refraining from saying anything at this stage."The petition was filed by advocate and BJP leader, Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking a direction to expeditiously appoint Lokpal at the Centre, Lokayukta in states and provide a citizen charter in every department to ensure time-bound delivery of goods and services.As per provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, a Lokpal as anti-corruption authority or ombudsman would be set up at the Central level, while a Lokayukta will be set up in each state.In July last year, the Supreme Court had expressed its ...
Woman caught with gold paste worth Rs 18 lakh at Goa airport
A woman was detained at the Goa airport on Monday for illegally carrying gold paste worth over Rs 18 lakh, a senior Customs official said. The woman, a foreign national whose identity and nationality were not disclosed, had kept the yellow metal hidden in a pocket of her pants, Customs Commissioner R Manohar said. Based on intelligence inputs, Customs officials apprehended the woman after she arrived at the Dabolim International Airport here from Dubai in an Air India flight. During her personal search, the officials seized 590 gm of semi-solid gold, valued at Rs 18.08 lakh, the official said. "The gold paste was kept in a transparent polythene packet concealed in a pocket specially created for the purpose in her jeans around the waist band," he said. Since April last year, the Goa Customs officials have seized gold worth Rs 236.5 lakh and foreign currencies with a face value to Rs 67.5 lakh from international passengers at the Dabolim airport, he added.
HC issues notice to Moin Qureshi on CBI's plea for higher security deposit to travel abroad
The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi on a CBI plea to enhance the security amount he has to pay to travel abroad. Justice Chander Shekhar sought the response of Qureshi on the agency's plea seeking enhancing of security from Rs 2 crore to Rs 6 crore which Qureshi, accused in a cheating and corruption case, has been asked to furnish before travelling to the UAE and Pakistan. Recently, Qureshi was allowed by a trial court to travel to the UAE from February 15-23 for attending the Gulf Food Festival and to Pakistan from March 6-20 to attend his niece's wedding. The court had also directed him to furnish an additional security of Rs 2 crore in the form of bank guarantee and warned that in case of violation of any of the conditions imposed, the amount would be forfeited. The CBI has moved the high court urging that the security amount be raised from Rs 2 crore to Rs 6 crore on the grounds that earlier the trial court had permitted a ..
Vivek Doval is thorough professional, court told
All allegations levelled against NSA Ajit Doval's son by Jairam Ramesh of the Congress and The Caravan magazine are "incorrect and mala fide" and Vivek Doval is a "thorough professional", a business partner on Monday told a Delhi court.
Saudis don't know where Khashoggi's body is: Minister
Saudi Arabia does not know where murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's body is, the Kingdom's Foreign Affairs Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said, despite having in custody the Saudi team that killed him.
IRCTC scam: Delhi court asks CBI, ED to provide documents to accused on Feb 14 & 25 respectively
A Delhi court on Monday asked the CBI and the ED to provide documents to the accused in IRCTC scam cases on February 14 and 25 respectively. Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj fixed February 14 as the date for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to provide the documents to the accused and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will have to submit them on February 25 at 2 pm. The cases relates to alleged money laundering in grant of operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. Both the CBI and the ED had registered cases against former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and others over it.
5 criminals arrested in Delhi
Five criminals from Haryana were arrested here before dawn on Monday after a brief shootout that left three of them wounded.
Five persons including a juvenile apprehended after a brief shootout in Rohini
A brief shootout took place early Monday morning at a park in Rohini between police and associates of Neeraj Bawana gang members, after which five accused were apprehended, officials said. Three of the accused sustained injuries in the shootout which took place near Swarn Jayanti Park at sector 10 in Rohini. The accused are associates of Dushyant and Sonu, who are members of the dreaded Neeraj Bawana gang and are wanted in two cases of murder, police officials said. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police apprehended Sunil Bhura (21), Sukhwinder (24), Ravinder (34), Arpit Chillar (20) and a 17-year-old, they added. Two police personnel who were shot at had a narrow escape as the bullets hit their bulletproof vests. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said the three accused, Arpit Chillar, Sunil Bhura and Sukhwinder, sustained injuries on their legs during the shootout. Five weapons with cartridges have been seized from the possession of the accused persons, .
Jayalalithaa death: Court rejects Apollo's petition seeking stay on probe panel's proceedings
Madras High Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by Apollo hospital seeking a stay on the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission's proceedings until a medical board is formed in connection with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death probe.The next date of hearing in the matter is February 15.Apollo Hospital had on February 9 approached the Madras High Court seeking an interim stay on the proceedings of the panel probing the death of Jayalalithaa. The hospital claimed that the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission, which is probing the death of Jayalalithaa, is "prejudiced," adding that the hospital will be subjected to "grave hardship and irreparable harm" if the proceedings are not stayed."The real danger of prejudice and bias is apparent in the manner in which the probe panel is conducting the examination of witnesses," a petition filed by the hospital read.The hospital further alleged that the Arumughaswamy Commission is "prejudging the facts and has concluded ...
Hapur lynching: SC issues notice to UP Police seeking direction for SIT probe
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Police on a plea filed by the son of Qasim, the victim in the Hapur lynching case, seeking direction for an SIT probe under an officer from another state.The apex court also tagged the matter with earlier pending pleas.In September last year, the top court said that the investigation in the matter will be conducted under the supervision of Meerut's Inspector General of Police (IG).The apex court also said that the IG Meerut will adhere and follow the court's judgment while conducting the investigation in the case.In June last year, 38-year-old Qasim, a cattle trader, was lynched to death and 65-year-old Shamsuddin was severely injured in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district after a group of people attacked them on suspicion of being involved in cow slaughter.
Sc refuses to monitor CBI investigation into Saradha chit fund scam
The Supreme Court Monday refused to monitor the ongoing CBI investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal. A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna did not allow the application filed by some investors that despite the apex court's 2013 order directing the agency to probe the chit fund scam, the investigation has not attained finality. "We are not inclined to set up a monitoring committee for the chit fund scam probe," the bench said. The apex court in 2013 had transferred the probe into the scam to the CBI. The top court had on February 5 directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to appear before the agency and "faithfully" cooperate into the investigation of cases arising out of the chit fund scam, while it making it clear that he will not be arrested. The CBI has alleged that Kumar, who was leading the SIT in the Saradha chit fund scam, destroyed and tampered with material evidence in the form of call detail records ...
Kolkata Police chief, ex-MP appear before CBI for questioning in Shillong
Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and former Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh on Monday appeared before the CBI here for questioning in connection with investigations in chit fund cases. This is the third day of grilling for Kumar and the second for Ghosh. Ghosh arrived at the CBI office here shortly after 10 am while Kumar reached an hour later, an official told PTI. On Sunday, the probe agency questioned Kumar separately and also along with Ghosh. The marathon questioning of the two lasted over eight hours, he said. The former Trinamool Congress MP was arrested in 2013 in the Saradha ponzi scam and has been out on bail since 2016. The CBI is questioning the two in accordance with directions of the Supreme Court. The Kolkata Police chief was quizzed for nearly nine hours on Saturday by three senior CBI officers about his alleged role in tampering of crucial evidence in the Saradha case, they said. He was also examined in the Rose Valley case on Sunday. Kumar led the special ..
Woman gang-raped by 12 near Ludhiana, police conduct raids
The Punjab Police on Monday conducted raids at various places in Ludhiana district after a young woman alleged she was gang-raped by 12 men at a farmhouse near Jagraon town after she and her male friend were attacked and abducted.
SC allows NGO to withdraw curative plea against verdict recriminalising consensual gay sex
The Supreme Court Monday allowed NGO Naz Foundation Trust to withdraw its curative plea challenging the apex court's 2013 verdict that had again criminalised gay sex between two consenting adults. A bench headed comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna considered the plea of the NGO that its curative plea has now become infructuous in view of the five-judge constitution bench verdict in 2018 which had set aside the 2013 judgement. The trust, which had first knocked doors of the Delhi High Court with its plea in 2001, seeking decriminalising of the consensual sexual act, had filed the curative petition. After the 2013 verdict, the Supreme Court had dismissed the review plea that had laid the foundation to file the curative petition. However, a five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra entertained fresh petitions seeking decriminalising of the consensual gay sex. The NGO said that the 2018 judgement had already set aside the earlier ...
Malaysia's Najib in last-ditch bid to delay trial
Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak was making a last-ditch bid Monday to delay the start of his trial over the 1MDB scandal, which contributed to his government's shock election defeat. Najib is due to go on trial Tuesday for the first time over allegations that he was involved in the looting of Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in a fraud that stretched around the world. Billions of dollars were allegedly stolen by Najib and his cronies from the fund, which was set up to help develop Malaysia's economy, and spent on everything from high-end real estate to expensive artworks. The scandal was a major factor in his long-ruling coalition's loss at polls in May. Since losing power, Najib has been arrested repeatedly and hit with a total of 42 charges linked to 1MDB. He has denied wrongdoing. The trial due to begin Tuesday is on seven charges related to allegations Najib pocketed 42 million ringgit (USD 10.3 million) from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. But his ...
2 witnesses record statement in support of Vivek Doval in defamation case against Caravan
Two witnesses Monday recorded their statements in a Delhi court in support of a defamation plea by NSA Ajit Doval's son Vivek Doval against 'The Caravan' magazine for an alleged defamatory article and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for using that content. Vivek's friend Nikhil Kapur and business partner Amit Sharma recorded their statements in support of the criminal defamation complaint. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal posted the matter for further hearing on February 22. On January 30, Vivek had recorded his statement before the court, saying all the allegations levelled by the magazine and later repeated by Ramesh at a press conference were "baseless" and "false" and damaged his reputation in the eyes of family members and professional colleagues.
SC refuses to entertain plea seeking court-monitored probe into Saradha chit-fund scam
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by investors seeking court-monitored probe into the Saradha chit-fund scam.The Saradha Group financial scandal was a major scam caused by the collapse of a Ponzi scheme run by the conglomerate. The multi-crore-rupee chit fund scam allegedly involves several key leaders from the Trinamool Congress.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is presently questioning Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh in Shillong in connection with the case.Kumar, who has been serving as Kolkata's Police Commissioner since January 2016, is said to have not responded to the earlier summons by the CBI in connection with the probe. He is also accused of allegedly tampering evidence in the case.On February 5, the Supreme Court had directed the 1989-batch IPS officer to appear before the CBI in connection with the scam. It had also said that no coercive step should be taken against Kumar.The top court directive had