theSun | THURSDAY JULY 2 2009 7

news without borders

Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

AN EXTORTION syndicate has

Syndicate targets Group says ‘no’
to maids
from China
Taiwan businessmen
started targeting Taiwanese busi-
nessmen in Malaysia, China Press THE Federation of Heng Ann Associations of
reported yesterday. Malaysia women’s section is against bringing
Members of the syndicate in domestic helpers from China as suggested
would call up these businessmen by certain quarters recently.
to identify themselves as “Taiwan- Section head Tan Guek Eng said bringing
ese underworld figures” who are from the syndicate but it could not the country for 20 years received men through various channels, in Chinese maids to work in Malaysia is akin
on the run and in need of money. be ascertained if any of them has a call from a “Taiwan mafia” pur- including credit cards, call cards to the proverbial Chinese saying of “leading
They threaten to harm those fallen prey to its trick. portedly hiding in Malaysia after and the Internet to identify their a wolf into one’s living room”, as it spells
who refuse to meet their re- In all known cases, the callers committing murders in Taiwan. targets,” he said. trouble.
quests. claimed to be Taiwanese mafia Chen said the caller provided Both the Malaysian and Tan pointed out that even without having
The syndicate has used the members who had fled to Ma- the businessman with the busi- Taiwanese police have been in- them in the house, Malaysian men are already
same ruse on Taiwanese business- laysia after committing serious nessman’s details, which prompt- formed of the case, he said. falling for women from China, what more al-
men in other parts of the world crimes in Taiwan and are cash- ed him to lodge a police report The Taipei Economic and lowing them into the house.
in recent years but switched its strapped. and seek the Taipei Economic Cultural Office in Malaysia issued Speaking to the press in Kuantan on
operations to Southeast Asia not The “criminals” were able to and Cultural Office’s help. a statement on Monday urging Tuesday, Tan pointed out that at recent dis-
long ago. strike fear in their targets as they He said this modus operandi Taiwanese businessmen who get cussions on the issue of Chinese maids, the
According to the report, it have information about them and has been used by con gangs in such calls to report to the police. women’s wings of the federation’s member
is understood that at least 40 their family members. Taiwan for years and Taiwanese Taipei Investors Association associations unanimously rejected the idea of
Taiwanese doing business in According to Even Chen, the police have been working hard to in Malaysia president Datuk Dr bringing in maids from China because of the
Thailand had been targeted by the police liaison officer with Taipei bring the mastermind to book. Ting Chung Cheng also advised “havoc” wreaked by them.
syndicate so far this year. Economic and Cultural Office in “I believe the syndicate behind members to lodge police reports “The federation is not looking down on
Taiwanese businessmen in Malaysia, a Taiwanese business- this has obtained personal infor- immediately if they are targeted them (Chinese maids), but there have been
Malaysia have been getting calls man in his 50s who has been in mation of Taiwanese business- by extortionists. too many cases (of broken families caused
by women from China). It is only natural that
Malaysian women have to guard against
S. Korean accused of using fake notes in casino these women,” she said.
She said the common culture, language,
SHAH ALAM: A South Korean technician was an interpreter. court not to grant bail to Yang, but defence religion and culinary habits make it easy for
charged in a sessions court here yesterday He is accused of using the counterfeit notes counsel Lee Teong Hooi requested a low bail as Chinese maids to get close to their male
with using four fake RM100 notes in a casino in at Hollywood Casino De Genting at about the accused has no family members to stand Chinese employers, posing a potential threat
Genting Highlands two months ago. 9.40pm on May 29. as guarantor. to family relationships.
Yoohong Yang, 40, who has been working Yang, who was arrested on May 30, faces Judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob did Tan, who is a marriage counsellor, said
in Malaysia for two years, pleaded not guilty 20 years jail and a fine, if convicted. not set any bail and fixed Aug 11 for mention. that in many cases she has handled, Chinese
when the charge was read to him in Korean by DPP Salwa Asmary Abdul Rahim asked the – Bernama women were the cause of marital woes.