Lessons to be learnt from a Dubai murder
Business Times Sunday, February 28, 2010, 09.21 AM
The January 20 murder of Hamas senior military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is still in the news, more than a month after his apparent assassination by professional hitmen.
The team of at least 11 people employed disguises, fake passports, and sophisticated communication equipment. The murder, believed to have been committed through electrocution and suffocation, has drawn condemnation from many countries. Mossad, Israel's spy agency, remains the prime suspect. Several arrests have been made but experts believe the killers will be difficult to find.
The case gained traction in cyberspace when Dubai police released a video comprising CCTV footage that retraced the steps taken by suspects from the moment they arrived at the airport until they fled the country after the crime. The video has been posted on YouTube, twitter, and promoted on various blogs.
Several thoughts come to mind after viewing this evidence. The first is that Dubai may need to evaluate and restructure its relatively open immigration practices. Screen visitors more closely and ask them more questions, for example.
According to reports, this is not the first high-profile international assassination in Dubai in recent years. In March 2009, former Chechen military commander Sulim Yamadayev was shot dead at a parking garage in the city. In 2008, Lebanese pop star Suzanne Tamim was stabbed to death in her apartment.
Another observation about the video is the high quality of CCTV footage. Images are very clear and sharp, whether it involves scenes from the airport, hotels, or a shopping mall where the suspects gathered to meet and make preparations. This is in stark contrast to the grainy and blurred CCTV footage we are used to seeing here, where even faces and licence plates are hard to make out.
Often such images have to be sent to experts to be further enhanced if they are to be of any use to enforcement of law. If such high quality video equipment is available, perhaps it is time to upgrade the outdated cameras we have in place, especially in strategic areas like airports, hotels, and banks. There's no point to have surveillance cameras if in the end, you're not going to see anything worthwhile.
The third lesson from the video is that transparency pays. The police could have easily called a press conference and just announced their findings. But to actually show the evidence makes it more credible and believable. And the fact that Dubai police managed to solve the case in such a short time only boosts their reputation and gains respect for their professionalism.
This could be emulated not only by law enforcement in other countries, but also any organisation that finds it difficult to get its message across or prove a point to the public. Don't just tell people what you have done or achieved - show it to them.
28 February, 2010
25 February, 2010
Indonesia’s new CPO futures – is there room for two?
Indonesia’s new CPO futures – is there room for two?
JAKARTA, Feb 25 – Indonesia’s planned launch of a new crude palm oil futures contract for the world’s top producer will face severe difficulties given Bursa Malaysia’s dominant position, a top industry analyst said on Thursday. “There is room for only one futures exchange for palm oil,” said Dorab Mistry, who handles the vegetable oil trading portfolio for the London unit of India’s Godrej Industries, in an email to Reuters.
Mistry said the Bursa Malaysia Derivative Exchange (BMD) has the advantage of being the first mover, and has gained credibility as it has been around a long time. “Therefore the new Indonesian exchange will find the market very challenging,” he said. The Indonesia Commodity & Derivative Exchange (ICDX) aims to launch the contract in April, but is chasing trading volumes of more than 4 million lots a month on Bursa Malaysia.
The move is the second attempt to create an Indonesian benchmark price, providing a better reflection of local supply and demand, and eliminating currency risk. But traders and analysts have doubts as to whether it can succeed given the lack of regular industry data releases in Indonesia to help buyers and sellers properly judge price direction. “Poor and delayed official data in Indonesia is always a problem,” Mistry said.
The absence of data and access to industry information by small traders, will make it hard to build up liquidity, he said. Lack of liquidity was one of the main reasons that the previous attempt failed. “We as a company would not trade on a new exchange. As time goes by and it develops credibility, the position may change,” Mistry said. “In most cases, we prefer to take physical delivery and we like to trade physical quantities. That is why we are happy to buy and sell Indonesian palm products physically from reputed large Indonesian companies,” he added. – Reuters
18 February, 2010
Investors lose RM1b in investment scams
Investors lose RM1b in investment scams
TheSun Updated: 05:35PM Wed, 17 Feb 2010 by Tim Leonard
PETALING JAYA (Feb 17, 2010): Investment scams promising high returns have become a menace in the country with investors losing over RM1 billion over the past five years. A Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Department official said police recorded a three-fold increase in the number of investment scams over the period.
The scams are carried out by sophisticated criminals with elaborate set-ups, dealing in almost anything – gold bars, foreign currencies, beef production, birds' nest, organic fertiliser or fish farming, among others. "The victims of these scams come from all walks of life and include doctors, lawyers, judges, pilots and wealthy businessmen," said the senior official. "Victims fall prey easily because the scammers are so believable.
"These scammers have elaborate offices, wear designer clothes, drive luxurious cars and are often found mingling with high society," said the official. "Some of them actually own a farm, an orchard or a basic infrastructure for the products they are promoting and it is quite impossible to detect if they are genuine or fraud in the initial stages.
"They rope in investors from all walks of life, promising returns from 20% to 100%, and in some cases, even 300%. The official cited one company which went around collecting investments of between RM1,000 and RM5,000 per person for a real estate project, promising a 300% return on the investment. "Within one month, they raked in more than RM2 million in investments. But in reality, no real estate project existed.
"So if you are approached by your friends or relatives, or anyone promising unbelievably high returns for your investment, take note that the deal is often a scam," the official said. "In some cases, investors received their returns but the entire scheme is a Ponzi scheme where money from new investors is used to pay old investors.
"And when new investors stop coming in, the money runs out and the promoters of the scheme close shop. The official said in some cases, investors who receive their returns become greedy and re-invest in the scam before realising they have been conned, by which time it is too late. "Unless the investment scheme is licensed by Bank Negara or the Securities Commission, it is illegal and, therefore, provides no guarantee on the investment," he said.
Several investments schemes highlighted in the media recently include:
* A CEO of a company involved in livestock farming and beef production pleaded not guilty in the Seremban sessions court recently for illegal deposit-taking activities amounting to more than RM70 million within a period of eight months in 2008. Bank Negara officers raided the premises of Eastana Farm after complaints from the public that the company was allegedly collecting minimum investments of RM3,000 with promises of high returns;
* Several investors of a Macau-based casino investment scheme lost between RM1 million and RM4 million each in Penang last month. They were initially taken on paid holiday trips to Macau and given luxury watches as gifts but the perpetrators of the scheme eventually disappeared with the money.
*BNM already advise that they expected the scams will increase in 2010. Beware guys..!!!
TheSun Updated: 05:35PM Wed, 17 Feb 2010 by Tim Leonard
PETALING JAYA (Feb 17, 2010): Investment scams promising high returns have become a menace in the country with investors losing over RM1 billion over the past five years. A Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Department official said police recorded a three-fold increase in the number of investment scams over the period.
The scams are carried out by sophisticated criminals with elaborate set-ups, dealing in almost anything – gold bars, foreign currencies, beef production, birds' nest, organic fertiliser or fish farming, among others. "The victims of these scams come from all walks of life and include doctors, lawyers, judges, pilots and wealthy businessmen," said the senior official. "Victims fall prey easily because the scammers are so believable.
"These scammers have elaborate offices, wear designer clothes, drive luxurious cars and are often found mingling with high society," said the official. "Some of them actually own a farm, an orchard or a basic infrastructure for the products they are promoting and it is quite impossible to detect if they are genuine or fraud in the initial stages.
"They rope in investors from all walks of life, promising returns from 20% to 100%, and in some cases, even 300%. The official cited one company which went around collecting investments of between RM1,000 and RM5,000 per person for a real estate project, promising a 300% return on the investment. "Within one month, they raked in more than RM2 million in investments. But in reality, no real estate project existed.
"So if you are approached by your friends or relatives, or anyone promising unbelievably high returns for your investment, take note that the deal is often a scam," the official said. "In some cases, investors received their returns but the entire scheme is a Ponzi scheme where money from new investors is used to pay old investors.
"And when new investors stop coming in, the money runs out and the promoters of the scheme close shop. The official said in some cases, investors who receive their returns become greedy and re-invest in the scam before realising they have been conned, by which time it is too late. "Unless the investment scheme is licensed by Bank Negara or the Securities Commission, it is illegal and, therefore, provides no guarantee on the investment," he said.
Several investments schemes highlighted in the media recently include:
* A CEO of a company involved in livestock farming and beef production pleaded not guilty in the Seremban sessions court recently for illegal deposit-taking activities amounting to more than RM70 million within a period of eight months in 2008. Bank Negara officers raided the premises of Eastana Farm after complaints from the public that the company was allegedly collecting minimum investments of RM3,000 with promises of high returns;
* Several investors of a Macau-based casino investment scheme lost between RM1 million and RM4 million each in Penang last month. They were initially taken on paid holiday trips to Macau and given luxury watches as gifts but the perpetrators of the scheme eventually disappeared with the money.
*BNM already advise that they expected the scams will increase in 2010. Beware guys..!!!
11 February, 2010
New Robbery Tactics (Old Tactic with new approach)
Keadian yg menimpa staff PPMSB semalam.
MELAKA: "Saya terperanjat apabila lelaki itu tiba-tiba menerpa ke dalam kereta sebelum terus memandu kerana enjin tidak dimatikan ketika ayah turun melihat kerosakan akibat dilanggar dari belakang.
"Badan saya menggigil dan dalam keadaan kelam-kabut itu terpaksa menjerit sekuat hati serta menumbuk bahu lelaki terbabit berkali-kali sebelum menyuruhnya berhenti," kata pelajar wanita Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (Kuim), Norfadzilah Nazirah Ghazali, 18, ketika menceritakan detik cemas terselamat selepas beberapa minit dilarikan seorang daripada tiga penjenayah yang menyamun Toyota Wish dipandu bapanya, kira-kira jam 6.40 pagi semalam di depan Ozana Resort di sini.
Menurutnya, lelaki berusia 30-an itu dipercayai tidak menyedari dia duduk di bahagian belakang sebelum terkejut mendengar jeritannya lalu cuba merampas telefon bimbitnya. Namun, katanya, dia dapat merampas semula telefon itu selepas bergelut dan memukul bahu lelaki terbabit yang turut menjerit dan mengarahkannya supaya terjun dari kereta.
"Tergamam dengan tindakan lelaki itu, saya nekad terjun keluar apabila lelaki itu memperlahankan kereta dan menyuruh saya terjun," katanya ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Taman Seri Duyung, dekat sini, semalam. Menurutnya, kejadian itu menyebabkan dia trauma kerana berlaku pada hari ulang tahun kelahirannya dan sedang menduduki peperiksaan akhir semesta pertama di Kuim, Kuala Sungai Baru.
Sementara itu, bapanya, Ghazali Md Tion,44, kakitangan Petronas berkata, dia menyedari sebuah kereta mengekori rapat kenderaannya ketika memandu di Jalan Bukit Katil berhampiran simpang Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ), namun tidak mengesyaki apa-apa. "Kali pertama saya rasa seperti kereta dilanggar tetapi tidak berhenti kerana was-was. Saya meneruskan perjalanan dan sebaik tiba di depan Ozana Resort Bukit Katil, sekali lagi terasa kereta dilanggar tetapi lebih kuat.
"Saya berhenti untuk memeriksa kereta dan berbincang dengan pemandu Proton Wira dengan nombor pendaftaran MAU 3632 sebelum lelaki terbabit meminta saya membuat laporan polis atau menyelesaikan masalah itu di tempat kejadian sebelum dia terus meluru masuk dalam kereta dan memandu serta melarikan anak perempuan saya. "Saya terkejut dan cuba mengejar sebelum tersungkur dan luka di tangan dan muka," katanya.
Menurutnya, dalam keadaan kesakitan, dia cuba mengejar dan menjerit memanggil nama anaknya manakala Proton Wira yang dinaiki dua lelaki itu turut mengikut rakan mereka yang melarikan keretanya yang baru dibeli kira-kira 10 bulan lalu. "Saya bersyukur kerana anak saya terselamat dan tidak cedera. Hanya Allah tahu betapa bimbang saya apabila melihat anak perempuan saya dilarikan.
"Macam-macam perkara buruk terlintas dalam fikiran ketika itu dan saya tidak kisah hilang kereta kerana lebih penting nyawa anak saya selamat," katanya ketika ditemui di Hospital Melaka. Dia membuat laporan di Balai Polis Ayer Keroh berhubung kejadian itu.
# CEGAH JENAYAH SEBELUM PARAH. PENJENAYAH HARI INI PERLU PENDEKATAN PENCEGAHAN YG BARU, HUKUMAN LEBIH BERAT DAN SEBATAN SEBAGAI HUKUMAN WAJIB MESTI DILAKSANAKAN.
MELAKA: "Saya terperanjat apabila lelaki itu tiba-tiba menerpa ke dalam kereta sebelum terus memandu kerana enjin tidak dimatikan ketika ayah turun melihat kerosakan akibat dilanggar dari belakang.
"Badan saya menggigil dan dalam keadaan kelam-kabut itu terpaksa menjerit sekuat hati serta menumbuk bahu lelaki terbabit berkali-kali sebelum menyuruhnya berhenti," kata pelajar wanita Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (Kuim), Norfadzilah Nazirah Ghazali, 18, ketika menceritakan detik cemas terselamat selepas beberapa minit dilarikan seorang daripada tiga penjenayah yang menyamun Toyota Wish dipandu bapanya, kira-kira jam 6.40 pagi semalam di depan Ozana Resort di sini.
Menurutnya, lelaki berusia 30-an itu dipercayai tidak menyedari dia duduk di bahagian belakang sebelum terkejut mendengar jeritannya lalu cuba merampas telefon bimbitnya. Namun, katanya, dia dapat merampas semula telefon itu selepas bergelut dan memukul bahu lelaki terbabit yang turut menjerit dan mengarahkannya supaya terjun dari kereta.
"Tergamam dengan tindakan lelaki itu, saya nekad terjun keluar apabila lelaki itu memperlahankan kereta dan menyuruh saya terjun," katanya ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Taman Seri Duyung, dekat sini, semalam. Menurutnya, kejadian itu menyebabkan dia trauma kerana berlaku pada hari ulang tahun kelahirannya dan sedang menduduki peperiksaan akhir semesta pertama di Kuim, Kuala Sungai Baru.
Sementara itu, bapanya, Ghazali Md Tion,44, kakitangan Petronas berkata, dia menyedari sebuah kereta mengekori rapat kenderaannya ketika memandu di Jalan Bukit Katil berhampiran simpang Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ), namun tidak mengesyaki apa-apa. "Kali pertama saya rasa seperti kereta dilanggar tetapi tidak berhenti kerana was-was. Saya meneruskan perjalanan dan sebaik tiba di depan Ozana Resort Bukit Katil, sekali lagi terasa kereta dilanggar tetapi lebih kuat.
"Saya berhenti untuk memeriksa kereta dan berbincang dengan pemandu Proton Wira dengan nombor pendaftaran MAU 3632 sebelum lelaki terbabit meminta saya membuat laporan polis atau menyelesaikan masalah itu di tempat kejadian sebelum dia terus meluru masuk dalam kereta dan memandu serta melarikan anak perempuan saya. "Saya terkejut dan cuba mengejar sebelum tersungkur dan luka di tangan dan muka," katanya.
Menurutnya, dalam keadaan kesakitan, dia cuba mengejar dan menjerit memanggil nama anaknya manakala Proton Wira yang dinaiki dua lelaki itu turut mengikut rakan mereka yang melarikan keretanya yang baru dibeli kira-kira 10 bulan lalu. "Saya bersyukur kerana anak saya terselamat dan tidak cedera. Hanya Allah tahu betapa bimbang saya apabila melihat anak perempuan saya dilarikan.
"Macam-macam perkara buruk terlintas dalam fikiran ketika itu dan saya tidak kisah hilang kereta kerana lebih penting nyawa anak saya selamat," katanya ketika ditemui di Hospital Melaka. Dia membuat laporan di Balai Polis Ayer Keroh berhubung kejadian itu.
# CEGAH JENAYAH SEBELUM PARAH. PENJENAYAH HARI INI PERLU PENDEKATAN PENCEGAHAN YG BARU, HUKUMAN LEBIH BERAT DAN SEBATAN SEBAGAI HUKUMAN WAJIB MESTI DILAKSANAKAN.
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