Questions raised over arrest of Malaysian journalist following trafficking cartel exposé
Malaysiakini, a leading Malaysian news outlet, is defending one of its senior reporters, B. Nantha Kumar, after his arrest in a sting operation for allegedly soliciting bribes. The journalist was apprehended at a Kuala Lumpur hotel on Saturday, suspected of demanding money from an agent involved in bringing in migrant workers.
Nantha Kumar's arrest occurred a week after Malaysiakini published his exposé on a migrant trafficking cartel allegedly operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). He is accused by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) of soliciting 100,000 ringgit (US$22,421) to suppress two articles, ultimately accepting 20,000 ringgit (US $4,484). Malaysia has a long-standing issue with trafficking syndicates and corruption related to migrant workers, with KLIA frequently implicated in scandals, including a recent crackdown that led to the arrest of dozens of immigration officers in September.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Malaysiakini, a leading Malaysian news outlet, is defending one of its senior reporters, B. Nantha Kumar, after his arrest in a sting operation for allegedly soliciting bribes. The journalist was apprehended at a Kuala Lumpur hotel on Saturday, suspected of demanding money from an agent involved in bringing in migrant workers.
Nantha Kumar's arrest occurred a week after Malaysiakini published his exposé on a migrant trafficking cartel allegedly operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). He is accused by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) of soliciting 100,000 ringgit (US$22,421) to suppress two articles, ultimately accepting 20,000 ringgit (US $4,484). Malaysia has a long-standing issue with trafficking syndicates and corruption related to migrant workers, with KLIA frequently implicated in scandals, including a recent crackdown that led to the arrest of dozens of immigration officers in September.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
