Good to go: Saifuddin Nasution (third from left) checking out the newly built Jawi Immigration depot and quarters in Jawi, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Saifuddin: Clear reason needed to nab Bestinet founder, associate
NIBONG TEBAL: The government has confirmed that Bangladesh has reached out to ask Malaysian authorities to arrest Bestinet founder Mohamed Aminul Islam and his associate Mohamad Ruhul Amin.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed this saying they have received an application from Bangladesh, urging Malaysia to arrest the two men.
However, he said the extradition request did not reveal the purpose.
“Dhaka should explain whether the two were needed for questioning as part of an investigation or if they are to be charged in court.
“We need to clarify the objective first. If the objective is for Dhaka to conduct investigations, then they should use the mutual legal assistance channel.
“If the purpose is to charge these individuals in court, then they should state this in the request,” he told reporters after the handing over of the Jawi Immigration depot and quarters yesterday.
Saifuddin Nasution was responding to a question about a report that Bangladesh had urged the Malaysian authorities to arrest and extradite the Bestinet founder and his associate as part of a probe into alleged money laundering, extortion and trafficking of migrant workers.
The minister said Malaysia needed to be clear about the reason behind the request.
“They can only be extradited if Dhaka is pressing charges against them,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution also said he had discussed the extradition request with the Attorney General and Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
“I believe the IGP will handle this and liaise with his Bangladeshi counterpart,” he added.
It was reported that the two were alleged to be involved in a system that “fraudulently extorted money from victims” and subjected them to “physical and mental torture” based on a letter dated Oct 24 which Dhaka’s branch of Interpol had sent to its counterpart in Malaysia.
Bangladesh’s request was first reported on Nov 5 by Bloomberg.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin Nasution said he would meet Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor in court over the Kedah Mentri Besar’s decision to proceed with a legal suit against him.
“I will attend the hearing of the defamation suit filed by him against me as soon as the new date is set by the court,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution also said he had previously asked for an adjournment, following the example of Muhammad Sanusi who had done the same when facing several cases before.
“I am also like him. When (the trial) was scheduled, he (Muhammad Sanusi) requested a postponement.
“So, I will follow exactly how he did it,” he added.
On Nov 7, Muhammad Sanusi said he was determined to pursue the case to protect the integrity of the state government and the role of Mentri Besar entrusted to him.
“I am suing Saifuddin Nasution in his personal capacity for statements made while he was campaigning during the state election,” he said.
Muhammad Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim at the Alor Setar High Court on Aug 3, 2023.
He alleged that Saifuddin Nasution, who is also Pakatan Harapan’s secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused funds from the Malaysian Road Records Information System.
According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin Nasution allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme at the Guar Chempedak field in Yan on July 15 last year.
