Representative of Malaysia’s opposition party demanded that an investigation, concerning the Minister of Home Affairs’ letter to Mark Giuliano, Deputy Director of the FBI, should be carried out. As previously reported, Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed in this letter that poker player Wei Seng ‘Paul’ Phua had helped the government of Malaysia on several projects related to national security.
In addition, Mr. Hamidi shared with a considerable degree of certainty that Phua has not been involved in any way with Hong Kong-based organized crime group 14K Triad.
Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs wrote in his letter that the poker player, who is currently facing legal proceedings, had been considered a valuable asset to the government of the country and had assisted it on ventures that concerned local security. The official also pointed out regulators will be more than glad to be given the opportunity to occasionally work with Phua in future.
The letter was sent on December 19, 2014 but the defendant’s attorneys in Nevada withdrew it from court, since Malaysia’s government pointed out in a special objection that its contents should remain undisclosed.
Lawyers David Z. Chesnoff, Thomas C. Goldstein, and Richard Schonfeld stated in a special filing from December 29, 2014 that they have decided to respect the government’s request and to withdraw Mr. Hamidi’s letter.
Fahmi Fadzil, who is currently a communications director at the People’s Justice Party, demanded that an investigation concerning the comments of Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs should be carried out. He also said that he wanted to know why Mr. Hamidi would like to send a letter to the FBI.
Mr. Fadzil shared with local media that he found the contents of the afore-mentioned letter quite shocking. In the first place, Mr. Hamidi was trying to absolve from wrongdoing a person who was obviously involved in criminal activities. Secondly, Mr. Fadzil considered the claims that Phua had helped local government on national security projects way too questionable.
The opposition member promised that he will talk to Members of Parliament and Mr. Hamidi will be asked to formally respond to questions about his claims in Malaysia’s Parliament.
Back in July 2014, Phua, his son Darren, and six other people were arrested at the Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas for allegedly running illegal soccer betting ring and taking wagers during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The Phuas are the only defendants left with charges against them. A court hearing will be held on February 9, 2015 in Nevada. Initially, it was scheduled for January 12, but the judge in charge of the trial decided that she needs to be provided with more evidence before taking any further actions.
