Gambling kingpin Paul Phua Wei Seng does not have a police record in Malaysia, despite being reported to have been arrested in Miri in 2004, Putrajaya said today.

 

“According to police records, Phua does not have a previous criminal record,” Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a one-line written reply in Parliament to Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong).

 

Gobind had asked the government to state the police reports on Phua and if he had any previous criminal records in Malaysia. He also asked whether Phua had been charged, what punishment had been meted to him.

 

However, the home minister did not address all the questions and only gave this curt one-liner.

 

Phua was reported to have been arrested during a raid on July 4, 2004, during the Euro Cup football matches.

 

He was alleged to have been running an online betting ring , when he was caught by the authorities.

 

Similar case in Vegas

 

Phua made headlines after he was arrested and charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States of America, for a massive illegal online gambling operation in Caesar's Palace, a five-star hotel in Las Vegas, last July.

 

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reported that Zahid had subsequently written a letter to the FBI to clear Phua of any links with the 14K triad as alleged.

Zahid also said in the letter that Phua had assisted Malaysia in matters of “national security” and that Malaysia was "eager" for his return.

 

Zahid, who has been severely criticised for defending Phua, said he wrote the letter upon the request of Phua’s lawyers in the US.

 

However, his letter was rejected in the US court after an objection from prosecutors for late submission of evidence.

 

Paul’s son Darren Phua, who was charged in Las Vegas along with his father, is reported to have pleaded guilty to the charges.