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Groups of child beggars nabbed under ongoing Ops Pocket
Women deluded off savings
NGOs lodge police report against Janji Bersih gathering organisers

Groups of child beggars nabbed under ongoing Ops Pocket

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 06:30 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Children suspected of being in a syndicate of beggars in the city are becoming bolder and are operating in bigger groups targeting locals and tourists alike.

The children as young as seven-years-old from nearby Pulau Gaya as well as city street kids have been approaching diners in eateries and even knock on windows of vehicles waiting at traffic lights asking for money.

City Hall and police launched a crackdown on these child beggars since July 28. Since then 16 children were detained.

In the ongoing operation dubbed Ops Pocket, City Hall enforcement personnel detained another six children including two girls and a 40-year-old man on Monday evening.

In the two operations, a 12-year-old Filipino beggar with an amputated left arm tried to outrun the enforcement personnel by fleeing for about 100 metres before he was caught.

Another three children were held for peddling smuggled cigarettes while a 40-year-old man was also detained for having a stolen MyKad.

One of the boys from Pulau Gaya said they come to the city in groups of about 20 including adults to beg everyday and claimed to be able to earn up to RM50 each.

He however, refused to reveal on whether they have to hand over part of their "earnings" to anyone later.

City Hall deputy enforcement officer Ernest Majikon said all the children have been sent to the Kimanis children's shelter in Papar, while the foreign man have been handed over to the Immigration Department for further action.

He said the on-going Ops Pocket will be carried almost everyday around the city.

Women deluded off savings

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 06:30 AM PDT

JOHOR BARU: Despite numerous articles and public warnings, many women are still falling prey to foreign men who try and dupe them while using the Customs Department.

Customs department director-general Datuk Khazali Ahmad said the department had recorded 173 cases this year alone and the figures were worrying.

"Most of the cases include women being cheated of RM5,000 to RM15,000 but we have also had a woman who was cheated of RM300,000," he said when speaking to reporters before attending a meeting with customs directors at Grand Paragon Hotel here.

Khazali said that the modus operandi was similar to past years.

"The foreign men would first befriend the women and woo them into thinking that he was in love with her.

"The foreigner would then say that he wanted to send her a present but she would have to deposit a certain sum of money to the Customs Department before she can claim the gift," he said adding that 204 such cases were recorded last year.

He reminded that the department would never ask consumers to bank in money to any account and women especially should be vary of such requests.

"Most of the foreigners are Africans and they cleverly disguise themselves as handsome looking white men and con women that way.

"I guess it is true when they say that love is blind so the women will blindly believe whatever the foreigner tells them," he said.

Khazali explained that those who have been sent with such requests should immediately contact the customs department to verify the claims before depositing any money.

"We are closely monitoring this syndicate and will work on nabbing them soon," he said.

NGOs lodge police report against Janji Bersih gathering organisers

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 06:30 AM PDT

TANGKAK: Some 14 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here have lodged police reports against Janji Bersih gathering organisers in Kuala Lumpur for allowing some participants to step on the pictures of national leaders.

The gathering, which also showed some participants waving the Sang Saka Malaya flags, had also angered many people from the various races in Ledang.

The group's representative Huzahim Zaaba said it was a shameful act and rude for the participants to step on the pictures of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosnah Mansor.

We urge the police to act against those who were involved in organising the gathering as well as those who stepped on the pictures.

We also want the police to detain those who waved the Sang Saka Malaya flags as they had clearly showed their plans to change the national flag, he said after the group lodged reports at the Ledang police station recently.

Huzahim, who is also the Muar Ex-Policemen Association deputy chairman, said among the NGOs involved are Ledang Silat Sendeng Association, Ledang 4B Youth Movement, Ledang Ex-Army Association, Ledang Perkasa and the Ledang Youth Council.

He said the Home Ministry should be stern in such matters as the incidents had triggered anger among the people and affected the pride of the nation.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Sabtu, 8 September 2012