SNAPSHOT | Prison Dept fails to address Taiping riot questions: MP; MACC nabs 13 over RM2.5m in bribes

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm.

2pm

Death in custody

• Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has slammed a Prison Department statement yesterday regarding last year’s Taiping Prison riot, saying it fails to address key issues raised in Suhakam’s public inquiry report on the incident.

  He said the statement merely repeats the old news that a prison officer, Ryndee O’nel Victor, had been charged with allegedly causing the death of the detainee Gan Chin Eng.

  “Yet the Prisons Department statement picks the safe option - No apology. No clear acknowledgement of Suhakam’s findings. No explanation of allegations of a false police report. No explanation of falsified medical records. No answers on the accountability of senior officers. This is an attempt to evade answering the real issues,” he said.

  

  He reiterated his call for the suspension of the prison officers involved, particularly Taiping Prison director Nazri Mohamad, and five prison wardens already facing disciplinary proceedings, pending further investigations into the incident.

  He added that those who lodged the false police report must be charged, and staff who falsified medical records must likewise be brought to justice.

READ MORE: Suhakam: Officers instigated Taiping Prison riot, detainees' human rights violated

Corruption

• The MACC has arrested 13 people over a case that purportedly involved the alleged solicitation and receipt of about RM2.5 million in bribes since 2024.

  This includes a director and a former director of a government agency in northern Peninsular Malaysia, according to a report by The Star, citing a statement from MACC’s Strategic Communications Division today.

  

  The report said the bribes were allegedly received from contractors as an inducement to appoint companies controlled by cartel agents to monopolise direct negotiation and quotation projects awarded by the agency.

  “The contractors who were arrested confirmed that they were required to pay bribes of between 10 percent and 15 percent through intermediaries, with the money allegedly channelled to the director and former director of the government agency,” the MACC was quoted as saying.

  The 13 suspects were arrested on Monday night when they turned up to give statements at the Perak MACC office, with three of them remanded for two days until today.

Previously at 11am | Fahmi urges J-Kom chief to speak carefully; multi-faith group wants poster probed

Taiping Prison riot: One staffer charged, 5 face disciplinary actions

Son of alleged riot death victim at Taiping Prison says Suhakam report only 'the beginning'

COMMENT | Taiping Prison inquiry shows urgent need for reforms

MP SPEAKS | Suhakam's findings highlight urgent prison, institutional reform

Ikram member hit with 158 corruption charges over RM98.27m in organisation funds

COMMENT | NFA: No further action or 'not for Azam'?