Businessman, 10 others charged with being members of crime gang

Businessman, 10 others charged with being members of crime gang

PETALING JAYA: A businessman and 10 others were charged in the Kota Kinabalu sessions court with being members of the organised crime group “Geng Upik” between 2015 and last year.

Berita Harian reported that the accused were charged with being members of an organised crime group in Kota Kinabalu under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which is punishable with a jail term of between five and 20 years.

The accused were businessman Maslan Sani, 41; Rahman Burijin, 44; Jaisalfian Jaineh@Zaini, 45; Fauzie Rablin, 33; Shahlan Shah Abdul Samad, 37; Nelson Yen Yee Chung, 51; Faridzul Asmahadi, 31; Fazrul Bahar, 32; Alkan Abraham, 35; Mazlan Mahmud, 49; Mahathir Jibarail, 49.

No pleas were recorded from them after the charges were read out before judge Noor Hafizah Salim, who set March 1 for mention. No bail was allowed.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay previously said a businessman with a “Datuk” title was among 10 people arrested on Dec 25 after being suspected of running Sabah’s largest drug distribution syndicate.

He said the syndicate was also allegedly involved in money laundering through various businesses operated by its members, including oil and gas companies and a network of restaurants.

The seized assets include a ferry, multiple restaurants, a bungalow, luxury cars, and 12 companies involved in tourism, manufacturing, and oil and gas.