From News Reports:
Naypyitaw, April 19: Myanmar's former State Counciller, Aung San Suu Kyi, 78, who was arrested on the takeover of the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar on February 1, 2021, has been moved to house arrest in an undisclosed location from the Naypyidaw prison 'due to the extreme hot weather.'' reports the Irrawaddy.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, said that former State Counciller, Aung San Suu Kyi, 78, is not the only prisoner who has been transferred from the Naypyidaw prison due to the extreme hot weather.
He said that ''since the weather is extremely hot'' former President U Win Myint and former Naypyitaw Mayor U Myo Aung are also under house arrest after transferr from the Naypyidaw prison,'' he said.
''We are protecting elderly prisoners from heatstroke,'' he said.
Former State Counciller, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was tried for incitement and corruption by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar military court at the Naypyidaw prison, is serving a combined prison term of 33 years for charges brought by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar that include a sentence of seven years for corruption relating to the rental of a helicopter to a government minister during her term as State Councillor of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
In December 2021 State councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and Naypyitaw Mayor, U Myo Aung, who were arrested on February 1, 2021 after the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar takeover of the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government, were sentenced to two years in prison for incitement under Section 505(b) that criminalizes speech deemed by the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, State Administration Council (SAC) to incite public unrest.
The trial of former State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi for incitement under Section 505(b) began at the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar courtroom in Naypyidaw and was continued at a purpose built military court at the Naypyitaw prison from June, 2022.
In September 2022 former National League for Democracy (NLD), state councillor, Aung San Suu Kyi, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for alleged election fraud in the Myanmar November 8, 2020 elections that had resulted in the National League for Democracy (NLD) party winning the popular vote with 97 percent of Yangon regional seats.
On February 1, 2021, three months after the elections, the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar declared a state of emergency cancelling the League for Democracy (NLD) dominated session of the parliament, in an address broadcast on the Myanmar military-owned television network based in Yangon and Naypyiday, saying that power had been handed to the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar, Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Sydney, April 17: Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said at a press conference after the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a church service in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley on Monday night ''the attack is a terrorist act,'' reports the Associated Press.
''The church stabbing was religiously motivated,'' said ASIO director general, Mike Burgess.
ASIO director general, Mike Burgess, said at a press conference on Tueday attended by Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw, that ''ASIO, as part of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, would support the investigation into the attack.''
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a service at the at Assyrian Orthodox Church, Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley just after 7pm on Monday.
The bishop was among at least four injured in the attack including Father Isaac Royel, both have been admitted to the Liverppool Hospital for treatment to lacerations recieved in the attack.
The church service at Assyrian Orthodox Church, Christ The Good Shepherd Church was broadcast online, showing the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while he was conducting the church service.
The broadcast online showed a person lunging at Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel with an object in attackers hand .
A 16-year-old male was held by members of the church until police arrived.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) New South Wales reportedly removed the attacker from the Christ The Good Shepherd Church to an undisclosed location.
The online broadcast showing the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during the church service reportedly ''sparked fury in the community.''
A large crowd gathered outside the Assyrian Orthodox Church, Christ The Good Shepherd Church, in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley on Monday night, ''surging rapidly from about 50 to 500 people.
More that 100 police and 30 police vehicles reportedly ''swarmed the area'', including specialist officers and a police helicopter
ASIO director general, Mike Burgess said ''at this time, there is no indication of any ongoing threat to the public, saying ''the terror alert leval would not be raised.
''The stabbing does appear to be religiously motivated but we continue our line of investigation,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Hanoi, April 15: The HCMCity People's Court sentenced Truong My Lan, 68, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group, to death for embezzling funds from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) for fraudulent property development, reports the Vietnam News.
The HCMCity People's Court handed down the death sentence to Truong My Lan, for the embezzlement of US$12.5 billion from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB), 20 years in prison for bribery and 20 years for violating banking regulations.
Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group chairwoman, Truong My Lan was ordered to pay compensation of VND673.8 trillion (US$27 billion) to the Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB).
The HCMCity Investigation Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling, and Economic Crimes (CO3) under the Ministry of Public Security found that Truong My Lan, chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group, and 86 others embezzled, bribed and violated banking regulations, claiming that Truong My Lan, used the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) for fraudulant property development.
"Chairwoman Truong My Lan, directed bank appointees to provide loans to ghost companies that were established to embezzle funds from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) for property development by Truong My Lan's Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group,'' claimed the Ministry of Public Security
The Ministry of Public Security claimed that ghost companies were established to embezzle funds from the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) and that Truong My Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group had appointed relatives to positions on the Executive Board of the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) in order to direct funds to the ghost companies.
Times Square Vietnam Joint Stock Company, chairman Eric Chu, who is the husband of Truong My Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat (VTP) Holdings Group, recieved a nine-year prison sentence for violation of banking regulations at his wife's direction.
Truong My Lan's niece, Truong Hue Van, CEO of Windsor Property Management, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for embezzlement.
The central bank’s department of inspection and supervision head Do Thu Nhan was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting $5.2 million in bribes to conceal the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) poor financial status.
The HCMCity People's Court sentenced several Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) executives, including Dinh Van Thanh, former chairman of the Board of Directors of SCB and who is currently a fugitive, Bui Anh Dung, former chairman of the Board of Directors of SCB, and Vo Tan Hoang Van, general director of SCB, for charges of embezzlement and violating bank regulations.
Capella Group chairman, Nguyen Cao Tri, who was found guilty of misappropriating VND1 trillion from Truong My Lan, was sentenced to eight years in prison for abuse of trust.
Other Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) executives and government officials received sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment for embezzlement and violating banking regulations.
In 2015 then Minister of Justice, Ha Hung Cuong, presented a proposed amendments to the Penal Code including the death penalty for seven crimes to the National Assembly in Hanoi, saying ''the death penalty should be maintained for those convicted of corruption.''
The proposed amendments to the Penal Code included the abolition of the death penalty for seven of twenty-nine crimes that carried the death penalty in Vietnam.
Crimes that carry the death penalty include murder, armed robbery, treason, drug trafficking, the sexual abuse of children, economic crimes and corruption including the embezzlment of state property.
The proposed abolition of the death penalty for seven crimes include the embezzlment of state property, the destruction of national security facilities, treason, crimes against humanity, war crimes and drug trafficking.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Jakarta, April 13: Indonesia's Human Rights Watch (HRW), Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and Civil Society groups are against the proposed draft regulation that would allow active Indonesian military (TNI) officers and police (Polri) officers to hold civil servant positions in state ministries and institutions under the Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) or State Civil Administration, with Human Human Rights Watch calling on the President Joko Widodo to cancel the proposal, reports Antara.
Indonesian Human Rights Watch (HRW) Executive Director Gufron Mabruri called on President Joko Widodo to cancel the Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform proposed draft regulation on the Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) or State Civil Administration, saying ''the proposed regulation would restore the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI) 1962–1999 dual socio-political function (dwifungsi) under President Suharto's military New Order (Orba) regime.''
''The socio-political function (dwifungsi) was abolished in the political reform process that began in 1998,'' he said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Executive Director Gufron Mabruri said that the proposed government regulation must be cancelled, saying ''the proposed regulation is contrary to the agenda of reformasi.''
Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) Executive Director Daniel Awigra claims that the Joko Widodo government is attempting to secure civil servant positions in state ministries and institutions for active Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) officers.
''The Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) officers can hold civil servant positions in state ministries and institutions under the proposed Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) or State Civil Administration on the pretext of maintaining security and national defence,'' he said.
He said that under President Suharto's military New Order government anyone who was against economic development was an enemy of the state, saying that ''the fate of civil society under the 'Father of Development' was unclear.
The proposal for active Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and police (Polri) officers to hold civil servant positions in state ministries and institutions was made by founding commander of the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror squad, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in August 2022.
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson, Muhammad Isnur, said then that the proposal for active Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) officers and police (Polri) officers to hold civil servant positions in state ministries and institutions "show signs of the revival of the New Order (Orba) regime of former president Suharto."
He said that there are many policies by President Joko Widodo that show signs of the revival of the authoritarianism of the New Order regime, saying "efforts to militarise civilians through the Reserve Component (Komcad) system for state civil servants (ASN) is an example."
"This proposal poses a serious threat to democracy, a fruit of reformasi,'' he said.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, proposed that active National Armed Forces (TNI) officers and police (Polri) officers be allowed to hold civil servant positions in government ministries and institutions, saying "active National Armed Forces (TNI) officers and police (Polri) officers should be assigned to government ministries and institutions at the request of the institutions and with the agreement of President Joko Widodo.
The Southeast Asian Times

ndonesian National Military (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (POLRI) Information Centre director Major-General Nugraha Gumilar said that ''rogue TNI soldiers committed acts of violence against prisoner, Definus Kogoya, at the Gome Post in Puncak Regency, Papua.''
He claimed that the prisoner was a member of West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), a pro-independence resistance group identified by Indonesia as an Armed Criminal Group kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB) or armed criminal group.
Major-General Nugraha Gumilar did not reveal the identity of the (TNI) soldiers who committed the act of torture, saying ''there was more than one soldier involved in the torture.
In May 2021 President Joko Widodo declared the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) Free Papua Movement, a terrorist group following the fatal shooting of the head of the Papua Regional State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Brigadier General TNI I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya on April 25, 2021
President Joko Widodo ordered the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) to huntdown all armed separatists and terrorists groups in Papua, saying "there is no place for kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB) or armed criminal groups in Papua or elsewhere in Indonesia."
"I order the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) to huntdown and arrest all members of kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB) or armed criminal groups in Papua," he said.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TBNPB), the armed wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) Free Papua Movement, claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of Brigadier General TNI I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya in Beoga district in Puncak regency, in Papua Province, saying that the head of the Papua Regional State Intelligence Agency (BIN) had launched counter -insurgency operations in Beoga district in Puncak regency in Papua Province.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Bangkok, April 10: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) seized 4,200 bags containing carcinogenic cadmium weighing 6,720 tons and worth US$26 milion, at a warehouse in Khlong Kiew Subdistrict, Ban Bueng District, Chonburi province, arresting the buyer, Chinese national
Liu Lu, 38, reports the Nation.
Chinese national Liu Lu, was questioned at the Khlong Kiew subdistrict Police station, Ban Bueng District, Chonburi province on Saturday after the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED found that carcinogenic waste had been illegally transported from landfill in Tak province to Chonburi and Samut Sakhon Province.
Chinese national Liu Lu, said that he had bought the carcinogenic cadmium waste from Chinese national, Zhang, from Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech.
''A Thai named Kit, from J & B Metal Co, had sought assistance from Zhang to identify potential buyers of the carcinogenic cadmium waste,'' he said.
He said that Zhang, from Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech had offered to sell the carcinogenic cadmium waste at 8.25 baht per kilogramme, saying ''Kit from J&B Metal Co transferred the carcinogenic cadmium waste to the warehouse in Khlong Kiew Subdistrict, Ban Bueng District, Chonburi province.''
Chinese national, Zhang, from Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech, denied any involvement in the sale of the carcinogenic cadmium waste, claiming that he had temporarily stored the waste for Kit and did not profit from its sale.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) said that officials are searching for the Thai agent named Kit and other suspects both local and foreign involved in the purchase and transfer of carcinogenic cadmium waste.
Thailand environmenta academic, Sonthi Kotchawat, said that the price of cadmium tailings on the international market is about
150 baht (US$4.1) per kilogramme, saying that ''one tonne of cadmium waste is valued at about 150,000 baht (US$4,132.00).
''The cadmium tailings can make a huge profit for Chinese investors,'' he said.
He said that the cadmium tailings are used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries known as nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd batteries) and are utilised in the production of paints and metal plates,'' he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Manila, April 10: Philippines president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said after six warships and four aircraft from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a joint patrol exercise in the South China Sea on Sunday, ''the joint exercise went well,'' reports the Philippine News Agency.
Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that the joint patrol by Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States
on Monday was the first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) saying ''the joint excercises are very useful in enhancing interoperability among the allied countries.''
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr said that the interim reports that he has received are very useful, saying ''each navy knows how the other navy operates and the navy learns how to operate together.''
China also conducted patrols in the South China Sea on Sunday that include the West Philippine Sea with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr saying ''that's the usual reaction from the People’s Liberation Army.''
''It's only normal for China to respond to the joint maritime exercise by also showcasing its naval forces,'' he said.
In January 2022 then Presidential candidate former Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., said that the Philippines should continue to engage with China, saying he would dismiss any help from the United States in negotiations with China over the South China Sea if elected president.
"If Americans are involved in negotiations in the West Philippine Sea with China, it is bound to fail,” he said ahead of the Philippine Presidential elections .
He said that is was not feasible to seek to enforce the 2016 International Arbitration Court in the Hague ruling in favour of the Philippines against China's claim of historic rights over the South China Sea " saying ''China has rejected the verdict that the Philippines has sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea."
He said that the Philippines was not strong enough to engage in a defensive war with China, saying "China's incursions
in the West Philippine Sea is a problem between the Philippines and China.
"Going to war with China over the South China Sea would not be an option and should be considered a ludicrous idea," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Bangkok, April 8: Thailand's Constitutional Court has accepted a submittion by the Election Commission (EC) for the
dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), giving the opposition party 15 days to file a defence against the claim that the Move Forward Party (MFP) is allegedly attmepting to overthrow the Constitutional Monarchy, with Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Chaithawat Tulanon, saying ''the party has deferred electing new executives pending the Constitutional Court's ruling, reports the Bangkok Post.
The Constitutional Court that released the results of its initial deliberation on Wednesday, said ''the Election Commission (EC) claims to have evidence the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) party has acted in a way suggesting it wanted to overthrow the democratic regime of the government with the King as Head of State.''
''The Election Commission (EC) agency claims that the Mover Forward Party's action was hostile and in violation of Section 92 of the organic law on political parties,'' said the Constitutional Court ruling.
The Constitutional Court said that the submission by the Election Commssion (EC) requests the Constitutional Court to disband the party and revoke the rights of the party’s executives to stand for election.
''The Constitutional Court is requested to prohibit Move Forward Party executives and those whose rights to stand for election
are revoked from registering a new party or serving as executives of a new party for 10 years, under Sections 92 and 94 of the organic law on political parties,'' said the Constitutional Court's ruling.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Chaithawat Tulanon, said ''the party has deferred electing new executives pending the Constitutional Court's ruling, saying the Constitutional Court's ruling will decide the Move Forward Part'sy (MFP) fate over its effort to amend the Lese Majeste law.
Llast month he warned the Constitutional Court against involving the monarchy in political conflict, ''The Move Forward Party has no intention of overthrowing the Constitutional Monarchy,'' he said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Chaithawat Tulathon, said the party would present evidence and witnesses to prove that the Move Forward Party (MFP) has no intention of overthrowing the Constitutional Monarchy.
''The Move Forward Party (MFP) proposal to implement amendments to the Lese Majeste Law in Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminial Code and Computor Crimes is not intended to overthrow the Constitutional Monarchy,'' he said.
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Chaithawat Tulathon said that dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP) would not solve political problems, saying ''dissolution of the party may lead to the escalation of political conflict.''
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, Chaithawat Tulathon warned the Election Commission (EC) against involving the Monarchy in political conflict, saying ''involving the Monarchy in political conflict is a very sensitive issue and should be treated with caution.''
The Southeast Asian Times

Presidential Advisor for Poverty Alleviation called on Congress to consider the transitioning from a Predsidential to a parliamentary form of government in the proposed political amendments to the 1987 Constitution, with the Prime Minister position shared by the Senate President and Speaker of the House, saying ''Cabinest ministers would be appointed by the prime Minister.''
He said that certain political provisions in the 1987 Constitution have proven to be costly and redundant, saying ''amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for Filipnos.''
''The 1987 Constitution could be amendended to include the extention of the term of local officials, members of the House of Representatives , governors, vice governors, board members, mayors, vice mayors and concilors to six years,'' he said.
''Cabinet ministers would be responsible for daily government affairs and subject to removal by a vote of no confidence,'' he said.
He said the President should be designated as Head of State, Commander in Chief of the Armed Frorces and Head of Foreign Relations, with the President having the power to appont mSembers of the Judiciary and Constitutional Commissions and who would recommend the removal of cabinet ministers.
''The President and Vice President should be elected as a single team, with the Vice President assisting the President,'' he said.
He said that the Senate should explore reverting ownership, management and control of public utilities including power and water to the government, with a transition plan to compensate private companies
He said that the proposed economic amendements in the 1987 Constitution that should include the repeal of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) ''that would allow the government to own and operate energy plants.''
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said that planned amendments to the 1987 Constitution should be limited to economic provisions, saying ''this administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters alone, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy. Nothing more.''
''In any event, this administration is going to continue to push hard to attract more foreign investments to significantly help us achieve our ambition of upper middle-class income status by 2025," he said
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Bangkok, April 5: The Office of the Attorney-General ((OAG) filed a lawsuit against a former forensic officer who changed the recorded speed of the Ferrari sports car driven by Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya, in the fatal hit-and-run accident
of Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert in 2012, reports the Bangkok Post.
Lawyer, Paisan Chuarphon, for Chainarong Saengthongaram, filed a lawsuit at the Bangkok South Criminal Court against Office of Police Forensic Science former forensic officer, Pol Col Thanasit Taengchan, who inspected the hit-and-run accident in Bangkok in 2012 and later changed his statement lowering the car speed of Ferrari sports car driven by Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya, from 177kph to 79kph.
Lawyer, Paisan Chuarphon, claims that his client, Chainarong Saengthongaram, was wrongly identified by Forensic Officer
Pol Col Thanasit for his involvment in forging documents, fabricating the evidence and editeding the audio record.
''The forgeries and fabrications and editing of evidence had convinced the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Prosecutors Commission (PPC) and the independent panel that Chainarong Saengthongaram took part in the tampering of the evidence,'' he said.
Last month the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) charged former attorney-general, Nate Naksuk, 71, former police commissioner, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, and six other individuals with malfeasance for assisting Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayuth Yoovidhya evade prosecution following the fatal hit-and-run accident in 2012
In July 2020 the Attorney General Office (OAG), Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, withdrew all charges against the Red Bull heir after a new investigation found new evidence, that the Red Bull heir hit and run accident that resulted in the death of Bangkok police officer Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, was not caused by reckless driving.
Two new witnesses testified in July 2020 that the Red Bull heir drove a Ferrari sports car at between 50-60km/h on September 3, 2012, and that the motorcycle driven by the Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48, who was killed in the hit and run accident, abruply changed lanes and cut in front of the Ferrari sports car.
The Office of the Attorney General (AOG) Department of Appealate Litigation, chief justice, Nate Naksuk, concluded that "the crash was not caused by reckless driving on the part of the suspect, Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, and that the suspect did not commit an offence under Section 291 of the Criminal Code, act by negligence and causing death.
On September 3, 2012 Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya, then aged 27, was released on bail in Bangkok after he was charged with reckless driving, speeding over the limit at 177 km/h, drunk driving, fleeing the scene of the crime, causing the death of police officer, Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, 48.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Wichean Klanprasert, who was driving a motorbike to early-morning sentry duty in Thong Lor, was struck by a black Farrari sports car driven by Red Bull heir "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya and dragged about 200 metres, died from his injuries.
Red Bull heir, "Boss" Vorayudh Yoovidhaya fled Thailand for Singapore in 2017 after he repeatedly failed to report to police to answer the charges.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Hanoi, April 2: The director of the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB), Thanh Xuan Branch in Hanoi, Bui Thu Hoai Anh, 40, was arrested on Tuesday for the alleged embezzlment of VND338 billion (US$13.6 million) from eight accounts, with the Hanoi City Police, deputy director Major General Nguyen Thanh Tung, saying ''police are investigating the bank for funds used to raise fraudulent loans for property development companies.''
Nguyen Thi Lan, 58, who opened an account with the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) in 2021 said that VND58 billion ($2.3 million) had disappeared from her account.
''The Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) said that the bank would notify me of the balance of my account at the end of each month,'' she said.
She said that her deposit had a term of between 1-4 weeks, saying ''if I wanted to withdraw funds at the end of the term or extend the term of the deposit I would have to inform the bank at least a day in advance.''
''I continued making deposits into the account after I saw that the amount deposited had been correctly credited to my account,'' she said.
She said that on October 7, 2023 she had VND58 billion ($2.3 million) credit in her bank account, saying ''I received confirmation from the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) of the balance in my account''.
On October 12, 2023 Nguyen Thi Lan, 58, said she visited the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) in person to request a bank statement, saying ''I found that there was only VND93,000 of the VND58 billion in my account.''
''I did not withdraw any money nor did I approve any transaction for the withdrawal of the money,'' she said.
On Tuesday the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) Thanh Xuan Branch, said the bank had received complaints from a number of account holders, saying ''the money in their accounts had disappeared.''
Hanoi City Police, deputy director Major General Nguyen Thanh Tung said that the Hanoi City Police had arrested the director of the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) Thanh Xuan Branch, Bui Thu Hoai Anh, 40, for the alleged embezzlement of funds from bank accounts to raise fraudulent loans for property development companies.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Jakarta April 1: The Extradition Treaty between Indonesia and Singapore was ratified in the Indonesian House of Reprensentative last week, 17 years after the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) first refused ratification of the Extradition Treaty, Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and Airspace (FIR) agreements signed by former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007, reports Antara.
Indonesia's Law and Human Rights Minister, Yasonna Laoly, said the Extradition Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore by the Indonesian House of Represenatives on March 21, 2024 ''has entered the Extradition of Fugitives into force.''
The Extradition Treaty that was ratified by the Indonesian House of Represenatives under Law Number 5 of the Ratification of Agreements 2023 on March 21, 2024 is the 12th Extradition Treaty ratified by the Republic of Indonesia.
The Extradition Treaty between Indonesia and Singapore follows Extradition Treaty's between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, India, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.
''The Extradition Treaty between Indonesia and Singapore is a history of the success of Indonesian diplomacy considering that Singapore has only had a framework for extradition cooperation with certain countries and jurisdictions,'' said Law and Human Rights Minister, Yasonna Laoly.
''Singapore has only a framework for extradition cooperation with the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, and countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations,'' he said.
He said that the Extradition Treaty committs Indonesia and Singapore to legal cooperation in the repatriation of fugitives who have committed crimes to their home countries.
''Singapore's status as a world economic center was a consideration in the ratification of the Extradition Treaty,'' he said.
In 2007, the Extradition Treaty, Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and Airspace (FIR) agreements that were signed by former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong were not ratified in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) .
In 2007, reportedly one third of Singapore's investors with net financial assets of more than US$1 million were Indonesian, with 18,000 Indonesians of total assets of $87 billion living in Singapore.
Singapore was then listed among 38 countries and territories not fully implementing global standards aimed at eliminating tax havens.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Hanoi, March 31: The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) school in HCM City has cancelled classes for 1,200 students, with Vietnamese national chairwoman of the school board, Nguyen Thu Ut Em, banned from leaving Vietnam, reports the Vietnam News.
''The American Internationl School Vietnam (AISVN) chairwoman of the school board, Nguyen Thu Ut Em, was banned from leaving Vietnam due to a personal income tax debt on Wednesday,'' said the HCM City Municiple People's Committee.
The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) cancelled classes on March 18 after 129 foreign national teachers, 26 Vietnamese national teachers and 103 employees went on strike over unpaid salaries.
Two days later on March 20 up to 85 teachers resigned from the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) in HCM City.
School board chairwoman, Nguyen Thu Ut Em, claims that salaries were paid to 70 percent of Vietnamese national teachers in January 2024 and that foreign national teachers were not paid salaries for January 2024, saying ''salaries were not paid to Vietnamese nationals or foreign nations for the month of February.''
The HCM City Municiple People's Committee has directed the HCM City Department of Education and Training (HCMC DOET) to suspend enrolments at the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) for
2024 - 2025 and directed the Ho Chi Minh City Police to investigate the operations of the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) and investments in the American International Education Joint Stock Company of HCM City,
''Investment in the American International Education Joint Stock Company of HCM City has a direct impact on the operation and education standards of the American International School Vietnam (AISVN),'' said the HCM City Municiple People's Committee.
The HCM City Municiple People's Committee said that parents had proposed financial support to the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) school board chairwoman, Nguyen Thu Ut Em, for the school to continue operating until the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
''Investors in the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) want to recieve benefits in return for their investment,'' said the HCM City Municiple People's Committee.
''Investers want shares in the American International Education Joint Stock Company of HCM City,'' said the HCM City Municiple People's Committee.
On Sept 25, 2023 parents of students attending the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) in HCMC said they had signed a contract with the chairwoman of the school board, Nguyen Thi Ut Em, to lend the school hundreds of thousands of dollars interest free, saying ''the loan to the school was to be repaid in full within 90 days of their children completing 12th grade or moving to another school.''
Parents signing the contract understood that they would not recieve interest on the loan to the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) in HCMC but that in return their children would recieve an international education free of charge.
Van Phuong, said he signed a contract with AISVN's chairwoman Nguyen Thi Ut Em in 2018 to lend the school VND5 billion (US$205,000)
"My children moved in 2022 but the school has paid us nothing," he said.
He said that the school had promised to repay the loan twice, in January and May 2023, but has defaulted.'' he said.
"When signing the contract, I simply thought that my two children would get access to an international education free of charge if I lent the school the money, I did not expect the school to break its promise like this," he said.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Bangkok, March 30: Thailand's Ministry of Defence wants to exchange three made-in-China Yuan-class S26T submarines for a made-in China frigate and two made-in China patrol vessels after the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was instructed to cancel the 2017 contract for the made-in- China submarines with state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) in 2022, with Thailand's Ministry of Defence saying ''Thailand has already paid a 7 billion baht ($193.7 million) instalment to China for the procurement of made-in-China submarines ,'' reports Reuters.
Thailand's Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, Royal Thai Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Adung Phaniam and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jakkapong Sangmanee proposed the exchange of made-in- China submarines for a made-in-China frigate and patrol boats to China's state owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) in Beijing on Wednesday, saying "we have made the proposed for the exchange to China and they are considering it."
''The procurement of the three made-in-China Yuan-class S26T submarines would be shelved for now and resumed when the country is ready,'' he said.
In April 2022 then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to cancel the 2017 contract with state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) to build S26T Yuan-class submarines after a Chinese version of the German-made MTU 396 diesel engine was to be fitted in the three made-in China Yuan-class S26T submarines for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha saying "China cannot fulfil the 2017 agreement that stipulates the installation of German-made MTU396 diesel engines in the three made-in China Yuan-class S26T submarines."
State-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC), failed to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the 2017 contract with Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Adm Adung Phaniam, saying "China has given the German made MTU 396 diesel engine a new name."
The German government refused to sell the German-made MTU 396 diesel engine to China, saying " the German made MTU 396 diesel engine is designated military defence equipment."
The German government refusal to supply the German-made MTU396 diesel engines to state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) to be fitted in the S26T Yuan-class submarines built in China for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was based on the 1989 European Union (EU) arms embargo imposed on China.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 28: Amnesty International Indonesia has called on the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Indonesia to review the findings of the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) in the investigation into the assassination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, who died of arsenic poisoning on a Garuda Airways flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on September 7, 2004, reports Tempo.
Executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia and former member of the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF), Usman Hamid, called on the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Indonesia to declare the assassination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, a gross human rights violation last week.
He called on the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Indonesia ''to review the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) findings as evidence that the assasssinaton of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, is a human rights violation.''
He said that the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) findings on State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono should be reviewed.''
''The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Indonesia should also review the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) findings on Garuda Indonesia Airlines pilot, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the murder of human rights lawyer,'' he said.
He said that the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Indonesia should also review the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) findings on former President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia airlines, Indra Setiawan, who was found guilty of complicity in the murder of the human rights lawyer.
''The facts found by the 2005 Munir Fact Finding Team (TPF) are more than enough to show that the assasination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, is a gross violation of human rights,'' he said.
The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) Secretary General, Bivitri Susanti, said that the assasination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, should be declared a gross human rights violation, saying ''the assasination involved state officials and was carried out in a structured and systematic manner.''
He said that the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has made no attempt to declae the assassination of human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 24, "a gross human rights violation,'' saying "on dozens of occasions we have enquired about what steps Komnas HAM has made towards declaring the assasination of Munir a gross human rights violation."
''Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) have met with the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesia Attorney General's Office in order to provide assurances of human rights violations to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM),'' he said.
Human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, who was founder of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, or Kontras, and who revealed that Indonesian Army Special Forces, or Kopassus, soldiers had helped abduct 13 critics of the then Soeharto government between 1997 and 1998, was assassinated aboard a Garuda Airways flight while travelling from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on September 7, 2004.
In December 2008 Former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy director, Muchdi Purwopranjono, who was formally Kopassus Commander Major General, and reportedly involved in an alleged “Rose Team” military campaign that led to the elimination of opponents of Indonesia’s “New Order” government, was found not guilty by three judges of the South Jakarta District Court for assigning an agent to poison the civil rights lawyer following the absence of key witnesses for the prosecution.
Dutch forensic scientists found that human rights lawyer, Munir Said Thalib, 39 had ingested enough arsenic to raise suspicion that he had been poisoned during his journey from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore in September 4, 2004.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Jakarta, March 27: The National Coalition to Save Democracy set tyres on fire at the General Elections Commission office in Jakarta, at the results of the legislative and presidential elections, with National Coalition to Save Democracy spokesman saying ''We feel that democracy has been utterly violated by President Joko Widodo,'' reports Rueters.
The National Coalition to Save Democracy spokesman, Merry Samiri, called on the Indonesian parliament to remove president Joko Widodo from office for election fraud in the February 14, 2024 general elections, saying ''under President Joko Widodo's two-term administration democratic principles had been compromised and there has been a relapse in hard-fought democratic reforms.''
''Opponents to Presidential candidate Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, a former commander in the Special Detachment 88 anti-terror squad in the New Order regime of former president Suharto, who won the Presidency and who is to be inaugurated on October 20, 2024, are contesting the results of the general election,'' he said.
Opponents, former Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan and former Central Java Governor, Ganjar Pranowo, plan to contest the results of the election in the Constitutuional Court, claiming ''widespread fraud including the misuse of state resources, intimidation, and vote-buying.''
''We feel that democracy has been utterly violated by Jokowi and we demand that the parliament remove him from office,” he said.
The National Coalition to Save Democracy claim pre-election fraud in President Joko Widodo's cawe-cawe or meddling in the Constitution Court amendements to the Election Law that allowed President Joko Widodo’s eldest son, to run in the February legislative and presidential elections.
Amendments to the Election Law were made by the Constitutional Court panel of nine judges including Chief Justice, Anwar Usman, who is the brother-in-law, of President Joko Widodo, to make the eldest son of President Joko Widodo eligible to register at the General Elections Commission of Indonesia as a candidate in the legislative and presidential elections.
The Constitutional Court panel of nine judges voted five in favour and four against to amend the Law on General Elections that would allow President Joko Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, who is the Mayor of Surakarta city in Central Java, to register as a candidate in the legislative and presidential elections.
The Constitutional Court lowered the minimum age for presidential and vice presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years that allowed President Joko Widodo’s eldest son to run for President in the 2024 elections.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Phnom Penh, March 22: The Phnom Penh Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69, against a prison sentence and fine handed down by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on October 18, 2023 for incitement, with his lawyer saying ''the accusations are politically motivated.'' reports the Phnom Penh Post.
Former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69 was arrested for incitement on January 17, 2023 for attempting to overthrow the Hun Sen government and for attempting to gain support from Cambodians to discriminate against the leaders of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP),
The Phnom Penh Court of Appeal upheld a three year prison sentence and a fine of four million Riel ($1,000) for former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69, who was arrested for incitement on January 17, 2023 for attempting to overthrow the Hun Sen government and to incite Cambodians to discriminate against the leaders of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)
The Phnom Penh Court of Appeal presiding Judge, Sin Visal, said that the judgement made by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court
on October 18, 2023 to sentence Thach Setha, 69, to three years in prison and a fine of four million Riel ($1,000) was appropriate and had been made in accordance with the law.
“The Phnom Penh Appeal Court has rejected the appeal of the accused, Thach Setha, and has upheld the judgement of October 18, 2023 of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” said presiding Judge Sin Visal
Former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69, was charged with two counts of incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest and incitement to discriminate under Articles 494, 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code, with lawyer, Son Chum Chuon, saying ''the court ruling against Setha was unjust.''
He said that Thach Setha has not committed any crime, saying ''the accusations are politically motivated.''
“What he said is historical and not political and not an act of incitement or discimination,'' he said.
The former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69 was found guilty of incitement for meeting with Cambodian workers in south Korea on January 13, 2023.
Thach Setha, 69 was found guilty of incitement for attempting to gain support from the Cambodia workers in South Korea, who were supporters of the former dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), to join forces with the opposition Candlelight Party (CP) to overthrow the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
Thach Setha, 69, was also found guilty of incitement for criticising the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) leaders at events organised by the opposition Candlelight Party (CP) on January 7, 2023.
The former vice president of the dissolved opposition Candlelight Party (CP), Thach Setha, 69, criticised leaders of the ruling
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) for constructing numerous Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Monuments in Cambodia
claiming that the monuments showed the Cambodian subservience to Vietnam.
In October 2022 ruling Cambodia's People's Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen warned opposition political parties ahead of the 7th National Assembly elections in June 23, 2023, of associating with founder of the opposition Candlelight Party (CP), in exile Sam Rainsy, who is also the former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), saying he would dissolve political party's that associated with Sam Rainsy.
The Candlelight Party (CP), formerly known as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation Party, was founded in 1995 and merged with other opposition forces to form the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012 but was dissolved in a Supreme court ruling in 2017.
The Southeast Asian Times

From News Reports:
Kuala Lumpur, March 24: The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court sentenced Chiok Wai Loong, 35, to six month in prison and fined him RM12,000 for a facebook posting deemed insulting to Islam, with Chiok Wai Loong pleading guilty to posting a photograph of socks inscribed with the word ''Allah'' on facebook, reports, the Star.
Chiok Wai Loong, 35, was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for posting a photograph of a pair of socks inscribed with the world ''Allah'' for sale at the KK Super Mart convienance store at Banda Sunway in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Chiok Wai Loong, 35, apologised to the court, saying ''I didn’t mean to insult the religion of others.''
''It has become a hobby for me to surf the internet and leave comments on facebook,'' he said.
Chiok Wai Loong, 35, appealed for leniency and promised not to commit a similar offence in the future.
Chiok Wai Loong, 35, was the second person in Malaysia to be brought to court within two days for a facebook posting that was deemed insulting to Islam.
Ricky Shane Cagampang, 33, pleaded guilty in the Kota Kinabalu sessions court on Thursday to posting comments on March 17
on the pair of socks bearing the inscription ''Allah'' for sale at the chain of KK Super Mart convenience store on facebook.
Ricky Shane Cagampang, 33, was sentenced to six months in prison and fined RM12,000 under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for posting comments that were deemed insulting to Islam on facebook on March 17.
On Saturday the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Youth leader, Dr Akmal Salle, called for a boycott of the chain KK Super Mart convenience stores for selling pairs of socks bearing the inscription ''Allah'', saying ''the boycott of KKSuper Mart convenience stores would be a lesson for anyone who touches on sensitive issues involving the 3Rs race, religion and royalty,'' he said.
He said KKSuper Mart convenience stores should consider venturing into other businesses, saying United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)Youth will continue to push for the boycott of KK Super Mart convenience stores.''
''The boycott of KK Super Mart stores will be felt by every layer of Malaysia's society,'' he said.
Criminal Investigation Departmen (CID) director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said ''investigation into the sale of the socks bearing the inscription ''Allah'' are complet and await instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)''.
He said the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is preparing to prosecute two parties under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
''The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is preparing to prosecute Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd., the distribution company that supplied the socks to the KK Super Mart chain of convenience stores, and the KK Super Mart convenience stores that sold the socks bearing the inscription ''Allah''.
The Southeast Asian Times