Thursday, November 3, 2011

Ex-ISA detainees now being probed for money laundering

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/180389 (3.11.2011)
Eight Immigration Department officers suspected of being involved in a human smuggling syndicate are now being investigated under the Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
However, the Home Ministry offered no explanation as to why the officers, freed after being detained for more than a year under the Internal Security Act (ISA), were not being probed under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for the crime they were originally accused of.
Also, no reason was given as to why these officers were now being investigated under the terrorism financing law in the written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who asked for the rationale in freeing the officers and the legal action taken under the anti-trafficking law.
"The eight Immigration Department officers were released based on the evaluation and the reports from the police as well as the prison authorities that they are no longer a threat to national security," Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.
"As of now, they are being probed under the Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and once investigations are concluded, the investigation papers will be presented to the Attorney-General's Chambers for follow-up action," he said.
The eight officers were released in August and the reason, Hishammuddin said, was because they "had shown awareness and remorse over their mistake, and had promised never to repeat it".

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