Former Malaysian PM’s stepson to face money laundry charges
Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, a stepson of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, was arrested by the country's anti-corruption body on July 4 and is expected to be charged for money laundering.
Former Malaysian PM’s stepson to face money laundry charges (Source:www.voanews.com)
Hanoi (VNA)- Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, a stepson offormer Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, was arrested by the country'santi-corruption body on July 4 and is expected to be charged for moneylaundering.
The MalaysianAnti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s head Latheefa Koya confirmed Riza's arrest,adding that he will be brought to court to face charges on July 5 under thecountry's Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds ofUnlawful Activities Act 2001.
Riza, who is a filmproducer, was alleged to have received several hundreds of millions of USDsiphoned from state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) tofinance films including The Wolf of Wall Street.
He was also allegedto have used part of the funds to purchase several properties in the US.
FormerMalaysian PM Najib Razak founded the 1MDB investment fund in 2009, supposedlyto serve Malaysia’s development through global partnerships and foreign directinvestment.
However, it became the centre of a moneylaundering scandal, allegedly causing losses of up to 4.5 billion USD andleading to probes in Malaysia and several other countries such as the US,Switzerland, Singapore and China.
Najib himself hasbeen on trial for dozens of corruption charges involving billions of ringgitfrom 1MDB while his wife Rosmah Mansor was also facing multiple charges.–VNA
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to court for the second day of his high-profile corruption trial in Kuala Lumpur on April 15, with the former PM accused of plundering large sums of money from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
Malaysia has extradited a former Goldman Sachs leader to the US to face criminal charges linked to a multi-billion dollar scandal at Malaysia’s state investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), reported daily financial newspaper The Edge on May 6.
Malaysian police raided the Kuala Lumpur office of audit firm Deloitte on May 23 as part of a widening probe into a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched legal action against 41 individuals and organisations to recover about 65 million USD stolen from scandal-hit state fund 1MDB.
The Magistrate’s Court of Malaysia on June 24 fixed September 30 for the criminal case against US investment bank Goldman Sachs’s issuance of bonds involving 6.5 billion USD related to the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (MDB) investment fund.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Former Malaysian PM’s stepson to face money laundry charges (Source:www.voanews.com) 
