Malaysian reporter acclaimed for migrant syndicate stories denies bribe-taking
Malaysian reporter B. Nantha Kumar has pleaded not guilty to bribery charges after being arrested in a hotel raid related to an investigation into a migrant-trafficking syndicate. The senior reporter at Malaysiakini is accused of soliciting and accepting a 20,000 ringgit (US$4,500) bribe to drop stories about the syndicate operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The case has sparked shock in Malaysia, where Nantha Kumar was known for his investigations into migrant labor syndicates. He claims he was entrapped, stating that alleged traffickers repeatedly offered him bribes which he did not solicit. Malaysia has struggled with trafficking and corruption issues related to migrant workers, with the Kuala Lumpur airport previously linked to scandals involving fake job offers and illegal labor.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Malaysian reporter B. Nantha Kumar has pleaded not guilty to bribery charges after being arrested in a hotel raid related to an investigation into a migrant-trafficking syndicate. The senior reporter at Malaysiakini is accused of soliciting and accepting a 20,000 ringgit (US$4,500) bribe to drop stories about the syndicate operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The case has sparked shock in Malaysia, where Nantha Kumar was known for his investigations into migrant labor syndicates. He claims he was entrapped, stating that alleged traffickers repeatedly offered him bribes which he did not solicit. Malaysia has struggled with trafficking and corruption issues related to migrant workers, with the Kuala Lumpur airport previously linked to scandals involving fake job offers and illegal labor.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
