PETALING JAYA: Reports in Manila claim that Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman had blocked the deportation of a conman wanted by the Philippine police but Malaysian police claim otherwise.
Philippine Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas was quoted as saying that the deportation of the country’s most wanted conman was stopped by Musa, who has been facing a series of allegations of late.
The suspect, Manuel Karingal Amalillo, who operated a company Aman Futures Group, had claimed to be a nephew of Musa and Foreign Minister Anifah Aman in courting his victims.
He had lured thousands of Filipino investors into his investment scheme offering 67% in returns.
Amalillo fled the Philippines for Sabah in November after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III ordered his arrest.
More than 15,000 investors were cheated of around 12 billion pesos (RM895 million) in his scam.
Amalillo, also known as Mohammad Suffian Syed in Malaysia, was arrested in Ranau, Sabah, last Thursday.
Meanwhile, Sabah police chief Comm Hamza Taib dismissed the reports that Musa blocked the deportation.
“It was my decision [to stop the move to send him back last Thursday] as we have to follow proper procedures to deport anyone,” he was quoted as saying in The Star.
“We have nothing against deporting the man but [to date] there has been no request for his deportation by the Philippines,” he added.
Hamza also said that Amalillo’s arrest had nothing to do with the scam in the Philippines.
He said Amalillo was held over identity issues and that investigations were being carried out for offences under Section 12(1) D of the Passport Act 1966 that provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or five years’ jail or both.
“We found him in possession of a suspected fake Philippine passport. We are now trying to establish his true citizenship,” he said.
Hamza, who confirmed that the suspect had no family relationship with Musa, said any deportation should follow the required laws as this would help strengthen and create harmonious relations between the police force of both countries. - Malaysian Digest
