BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Forfeiture of cash and properties amounting to BND143,274.40 belonging to two individuals was granted by the High Court for the Public Prosecutor’s application under the Criminal Asset Recovery Order, 2012 (CARO) on Tuesday (May 19).
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Mohammad Faizan Ahmad and his wife, Atin Suprihatin, on Sept 15, 2020, for suspected involvement in a family-run drug trafficking syndicate, which the NCB dismantled through an operation known as ‘Musang King’.
Following their arrests, cash, gold jewellery and vehicles were seized on suspicion that they were acquired using proceeds of drug trafficking activities.
NCB investigations revealed that Mohammad Faizan Ahmad was actively involved in drug trafficking and had obtained his drug supply from family members who have since been prosecuted and are currently on trial in the High Court for possession of Methylamphetamine, class A controlled drug, for trafficking, contrary to section 3A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and for money laundering offences under section 3 of CARO.
Both Mohammad Faizan and his wife were also found to have taken deliberate steps to conceal their assets by distributing them among trusted family members and individuals linked to the syndicate, in an attempt to prevent the assets from being detected and seized.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Syafina Abdul Hadzid and Mohammad Syafi’e Habibuallah Edi Mirhan applied for the forfeiture. Neither respondent contested the application.
Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Abidin declared the seized properties as tainted properties under CARO and ordered their forfeiture to the government of Brunei Darussalam.
This forfeiture order represents the first breakthrough arising from the ‘Musang King’ operation and marks a significant milestone in efforts to disrupt the financial proceeds of drug trafficking activities.
NCB reminded the public to remain vigilant and avoid any involvement in activities related to concealing proceeds derived from criminal activities.
This includes holding assets on behalf of other parties, particularly persons whose background and source of funds are unclear.
NCB will continue to intensify operations against drug syndicates in Brunei. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
