Day: November 12, 2021

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Prime Minister participated in the 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

On 12 November 2021, H.E. Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister participated in the 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) hosted by New Zealand via video conference.

APEC Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to (1) respond to the immediate crisis caused by the pandemic (2) promote economic recovery, and (3) generate long-term sustainable and inclusive growth.

To promptly respond to COVID-19, APEC Leaders emphasised the importance of equitable access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines and related medical products and supportive measures on trade facilitation to reduce the cost of such products. The meeting also agreed that APEC must work on reopening borders in a safe and seamless manner.

To promote economic recovery, APEC Leaders emphasised the importance of an open, fair and non-discriminatory digital business environment and reaffirmed its commitment to a rules based multilateral trading system and agreed to work together towards a concrete and meaningful outcome of MC12. The meeting also agreed on the need for fiscal policy that is calibrated to sustain economic recovery while preserving long-term fiscal sustainability. At the same time, structural reform must play a key role  in maintaining economic stimulus in the region.

To generate long-term sustainable and inclusive growth, APEC Leaders called for action to transform APEC to “net-zero” and achieve the Paris Agreement goals. To achieve this, APEC will further integrate climate change agenda across all APEC works. The meeting also pledged to continue support access to economic opportunities for MSMEs, women and groups with untapped economic potential through digital empowerment.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of accelerating economic recovery to generate long-term and sustainable growth and highlighted the following 3 priority areas: (1) reconnecting the region in a safe and seamless manner; (2) rejuvenating trade and investment by taking the lead in advancing free and open trade and investment, strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system and deepening regional economic integration with a view to realising the FTAAP agenda; and (3) revitalising APEC economies to ensure long-term growth that is sustainable, balanced and inclusive and sharing Thailand’s thinking on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model.

The 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting was successfully held against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. APEC Leaders adopted two important outcome documents, the 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Declaration and the Aotearoa Plan of Action to implement the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040.

The Prime Minister’s speech as the host of APEC 2022 introducing the theme of APEC 2022 “Open. Connect. Balance.” was warmly welcomed by APEC economies.

 

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand

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FORMER CONTRACT BANK LOAN OFFICER CHARGED FOR CERTIFYING FORGED INCOME DOCUMENTS IN CREDIT CARD AND LOAN APPLICATIONS

A 26-year-old man who was formerly employed as a contract bank loan officer will be charged on in court on 12 November 2021 for his suspected involvement in using forged documents to support credit card and personal loan applications.

In April 2020, the Police received information that forged payslips and Central Provident Fund statements had been submitted to the bank to apply for credit cards and personal loans in four separate applications. Investigations revealed that the applicants had responded to advertisements on social media platforms and were directed by a third party to make the applications in person at the bank, where the 26-year-old man, who was then employed as a contract bank loan officer, had attended to them. Between February and April 2020, the man allegedly certified forged documents as genuine and submitted them together with the forms signed by the applicants, even though he had reason to believe that the documents were forged. For applications that were approved, the applicants purportedly withdrew the personal loan facilities in full and paid a fee of between 40% and 55% on the amount withdrawn to the third party.

Any individual found guilty of using as genuine a forged document under Section 471 of the Penal Code is liable to a fine, a jail term not exceeding four years, or both.

Financial institutions in Singapore require credit card and loan applicants to submit proof of their income. Members of public are advised not to respond to third party advertisements that offer to secure credit facilities from financial institutions, without requiring any proof of their income. The Police take a serious view against any person who may be involved in using, or assisting to use, forged documents to apply for credit cards and bank loans. Perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

 

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

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TWO DIRECTORS OF KIMLY LIMITED AND THE FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF POKKA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD CHARGED FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES ACT AND COMPANIES ACT

Two directors of Catalist-listed Kimly Limited (“Kimly”) and the former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Pokka International Pte Ltd (“Pokka International”) were charged today for disclosure offences under the Securities and Futures Act, (“SFA”) and the Companies Act (“CA”).

 

The Executive Chairman and the Executive Director of Kimly were each charged with one count under Section 203(1) read with Section 203(2) read with Section 331(1) of the SFA, in connection with Kimly’s acquisition of Asian Story Corporation Pte Ltd (“ASC”) that was announced on 2 July 2018. It is alleged that the acquisition was an interested person transaction (by virtue of the Executive Chairman’s partial beneficial ownership of ASC) that should have been disclosed under the SGX Catalist Rules, but was not.

 

The Executive Chairman of Kimly was further charged with one count under Section 156 of the CA for failing to disclose his interest in the acquisition of ASC to Kimly.

 

The former CEO of Pokka International faces three charges under Section 156 of the CA. It is alleged that the former CEO, who was also a director in Pokka International and Pokka Corporation (Singapore) Pte Ltd (“Pokka Corporation”), had partial beneficial ownership of ASC and failed to disclose his interest to Pokka International and Pokka Corporation on three occasions when ASC entered into transactions with the two Pokka entities.

 

If convicted, the accused persons face the following punishment:

 

Imprisonment not exceeding seven years, a fine not exceeding $250,000, or both, under each count of the SFA charges; and

 

Imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or a fine not exceeding $5,000, under Section 156 of the CA charge.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

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MFA Spokesperson’s Comments in Response to Media Queries on the Appeal Letters from Malaysian Leaders on the Judicial Execution of Nagaenthran A/L K Dharmalingam

In response to media queries, the MFA Spokesperson said:

 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan have replied to their Malaysian counterparts to convey that Nagaenthran A/L K Dharmalingam has been accorded full due process under the law.

 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

12 NOVEMBER 2021

 

 

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Singapore

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Myanmar Court Sentences American Journalist to 11 Years in Prison

BANGKOK — A Myanmar court has sentenced American journalist Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison on charges of unlawful association, incitement against the military and breaching visa rules, his lawyer and employer said Friday.

Than Zaw Aung, Fenster’s lawyer, told VOA there are currently no plans for an appeal.

Fenster faces additional charges of sedition and terrorism, which could see him in jail for life. His lawyer said Wednesday he could not explain why the new charges were made, or what the authorities are accusing Fenster of having done.

The additional charges were filed under Section 124A of Myanmar’s penal code, which prohibits sedition against the government, and under Section 50A of Myanmar’s counterterrorism law, which criminalizes contact with “terrorist groups.”

“Everyone at Frontier is disappointed and frustrated at this decision,” Yangon-based Frontier Myanmar said in a statement Friday.

Original charges

Fenster was arrested at Yangon International Airport in May as he boarded a flight to the United States, via Malaysia.

“They (police) thought he was working for Myanmar Now. At the airport arresting time, the police found his Myanmar Now name tag,” Than Zaw Aung told VOA.

Myanmar Now was one of five media outlets that had their licenses revoked by the junta in April.

Fenster worked for the news organization from 2019-20 but ended his position months before the military coup, details which were confirmed by Myanmar Now.

US reaction

The U.S. State Department condemned the conviction Friday.

“The Burmese military regime’s sentencing of U.S. journalist Danny Fenster is an unjust conviction of an innocent person,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

In comments to VOA on Wednesday, Price said that Fenster should be released immediately.

“The profoundly unjust nature of Danny’s detention is plain for all the world to see,” he said. “The regime should take the prudent step of releasing him now. His continued detention is unacceptable. Journalism is not a crime.”

In response to a question asked by a VOA reporter earlier this week, Price said seeing Fenster released is an “absolute priority.”

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has seen most of its modern history governed under military rule.

The military claimed unsubstantiated electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections. On February 1, it removed the democratically elected government; leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained and charged.

Anti-coup protests began shortly after, with thousands taking to the streets and refusing to work under military rule. But the military violently cracked down on dissidents, and at least 1,252 people have been killed since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.

More than 100 journalists and media staff have been arrested during the crackdown, according to Reporting ASEAN, a monitoring website for news in Asia.

Risky reporting in Myanmar

Reporters in Myanmar have said it’s almost impossible for journalists to cover news without high risks.

Myanmar freelance journalist Cape Diamond, an assumed name he uses to protect his identify, told VOA it’s no longer a shock that journalists like Fenster are facing such charges.

“The journalists in Myanmar have already acknowledged that there’s no press freedom in the country. The local journalists are already aware that those charges could come to them anytime,” he added.

Aye Chan Naing, editorial director for Democratic Voice of Burma, a Myanmar broadcaster currently banned by the junta, told VOA in July that being a journalist in Myanmar is a “ticket to get arrested.”

The veteran journalist said the military has a “wish list” of targets.

“It is based on their own wills,” Aye Chan Naing said. “The judges are just following the orders from the military — it’s nothing based on the rule of law. (The charges against Fenster) are more to scare other people and the local journalists to show that even the foreign journalists can go to prison.”

“He hasn’t broken any rules and regulations, it’s pretty clear. There are no rules of law in the country,” he told VOA.

Rights groups call for release

John Quinley, a senior human rights specialist at Fortify Rights, told VOA that his organization has been monitoring those arrested in Myanmar since the coup, and it’s clear journalists like Fenster have been targeted deliberately.

“Danny Fenster should be immediately and unconditionally released from prison along with all other political prisoners detained by the junta,” Quinley said.

Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said he believes the additional charges against Fenster are a wake-up call for further action against the military by the U.S. government.

“They need to do more to reduce the flow of money and arms to the military, including stopping gas revenue,” Farmaner told VOA via email.

Possible release

Myanmar analyst Aung Thu Nyein said he believes Fenster’s new charges are a “direct threat to press freedom” and that the prospect of heavier sentences is a new scare tactic the military government is using to deter contact with anti-military groups.

But the analyst told VOA he thinks Fenster still could be released.

“Danny could be sentenced for long-term imprisonment by political motivation, but he can be released any time soon, as the regime satisfies some form of diplomatic trade-off in relation with Western power.”

 

Source: Voice of America

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Cambodia Hits Back at US Sanctions Over Naval Base

Cambodia on Friday angrily condemned a U.S. decision to sanction two senior military officials over a contentious naval base, accusing Washington of showing “utter contempt” for its sovereignty.

The U.S. Treasury Department this week announced it was freezing any U.S. assets and criminalizing transactions with senior defense ministry official Chau Phirun and naval commander Tea Vinh over alleged corruption linked to the Ream Naval Base.

Washington accused the pair, along with other Cambodian officials, of conspiring to inflate costs at the base to pocket the proceeds.

“Cambodia strongly deplores the long-arm jurisdiction of the United States over Cambodian officials on the basis of groundless allegations driven by geopolitical motives,” the Cambodian foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The smear campaign and unilateral sanction of the United States against public figures of a sovereign state… [displays] an utter contempt for the independence of another country as well as acts as a serious interference in its domestic affairs,” the statement said.

The Cambodian foreign ministry also warned that the move was “another step in the wrong direction” for ties between the two countries.

The base on the Gulf of Thailand has been a running sore in U.S.-Cambodia relations in recent years, with Washington suspecting it is being converted for use by China.

Cambodia has been dismantling facilities at the base that were built partly with American money and played host to U.S. exercises.

Satellite imagery taken in August showed the construction of two new buildings, likely indicating that China is pushing ahead on a new agreement, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Hun Sen has repeatedly denied his country would host the Chinese military at the base.

Senior U.S. officials have warned Cambodia that hosting a Chinese base would damage relations with Washington.

China has been increasingly assertive over its extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, raising tensions with numerous Asian nations, but Cambodia has increasingly appeared as an ally.

 

 

Source: Voice of America