BUSINESSMAN Datuk Maslan Sani, 41, along with ten other individuals, was charged at Sessions Court 3 in Kota Kinabalu today for allegedly being members of the organised crime group “Geng Upik” from 2015 to 2023.
All of the accused are charged under Section 130V (1) of the Penal Code, Act 574, and could be sentenced under the same section.
However, no pleas were recorded from the accused, and the case is scheduled for mention on March 1 before being transferred to the high court.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Nazran Mohd Sham, Siti Hajah Mat Radzi and Nur Ainaa Ridzwan before judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim.
The other accused are Rahman Burijin, 44; Jaisalfian Jaineh @ Zaini, 45; Mohd Fauzie Rablin, 33; Shahlan Shah Abdul Samad, 37; Nelson Yen Yee Chung, 46; Mohd Faridzul Asmahadi, 31; Fazrul Bahar, 32; Alkan Abraham, 35; Mazlan Mahmud, 41; and Mahathir Jibarail, 49.
On December 26 last year, the media reported that a drug syndicate leader with the title Datuk was among 10 individuals detained in Sabah, suspected of being involved in the largest methamphetamine distribution syndicate in the state since 2015.
Police were reported saying that he allegedly sponsored a non-governmental organisation to protect the illegal activities since 2015.
The syndicate was also found to have allegedly laundered money through various high-end businesses run by its syndicate members, including oil and gas companies and restaurant chains.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay previously said that the leader of the syndicate was among 10 individuals arrested by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and the East Coast of Sabah Special Security Area (Esscom) teams in raids in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Semporna.
He said that since the arrests, police have seized various assets including 22 bank accounts with savings amounting to RM420,000 which have been frozen, 18 luxury vehicles worth RM6.6 million, jewellery and watches worth about RM100,000, as well as cash totaling RM35,000. – The Vibes, January 22, 2024
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