KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court yesterday acquitted a former transport minister implicated in one of the country’s biggest financial scandals, sparking opposition accusations the government was reneging on its promise to fight corruption. A Kuala Lumpur court found Ling Liong Sik not guilty of cheating the government over the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, a 1,000-acre commercial and industrial project south of the capital.
$30m meth pills seized
BANGKOK: Thai police announced yesterday a huge seizure of more than five million illegal methamphetamine pills worth about $30m believed to have been smuggled from Myanmar. Six people were arrested in two related seizures of the pills, known as yaba -- “crazy medicine” -- found at a house in Nonthaburi near Bangkok and in a truck in the central province of Phetchabun, authorities said.
North returns six Koreans
SEOUL: North Korea returned six detained South Koreans across the two rivals’ heavily-militarised land border yesterday, in a move that may help relax tensions. The handover took place at 4:50pm at the Panmunjom truce village where the armistice was signed ending hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War. There has been speculation that they might have been connected to Christian missionary groups who are active in helping North Koreans escape the country. The six could face criminal charges, as South Korea’s National Security Law prohibits its citizens from entering the North without permission.
Cameron to visit Lanka war zone
COLOMBO: British Premier David Cameron will become the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka’s war-torn Tamil heartland during next month’s Commonwealth summit when he will press Colombo on human rights. He is under pressure to boycott the summit over the bloody end to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. AGENCIES
