IGP says there are Malaysians abroad linked to 14K triad

(Malay Mail Online) – Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today there are Malaysians overseas who are members of the 14K triad, amid the controversy over suspected Malaysian gambling kingpin Paul Phua.

News portal Malaysiakini also reported the police chief as saying that the Hong Kong-based triad did not exist in Malaysia, reiterating Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claim in the minister’s letter to the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) purportedly backing Phua.

“I can only reiterate that while 14K does not exist here, there are Malaysians abroad who are known to be members of the triad,” Khalid told Malaysiakini in a text message.

“How people wish to interpret this statement is up to them. But as I said before, I would not comment further because it would jeopardise the court proceedings in the United States,” he added.

National newswire Bernama reported Zahid Tuesday as saying that it was beyond Malaysian legislation if there were Malaysians associated with the 14K triad overseas.

Zahid’s letter to the FBI dated December 18, 2014, was reportedly withdrawn as evidence in Phua’s illegal gambling trial in Las Vegas after Putrajaya objected to it being made public.

Phua’s lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah has said that the police have cleared his client over the latter’s involvement with 14K.

According to Shafee, Zahid’s letter was a response to a request for information about Phua’s alleged involvement with the 14K triad, which the home ministry said was untrue because there was no such triad in Malaysia.

The letter in question surfaced at the trial of the former Macau junket operator, whose full name is Paul Phua Wei Seng, who is facing illegal gambling charges in the US for taking bets during the World Cup last summer.

The letter reportedly stated that Phua has, on numerous occasions, assisted the Malaysian government on projects affecting national security.