In a legal saga already thick with intrigue, accusations, and power plays, businessman Victor Chin Boon Long has added a new twist - requesting to testify via Zoom instead of returning to Malaysia.
His reason: fear for his personal safety amid what he describes as a widening “corporate mafia” scandal that has gripped public attention.
Through letters filed by his legal representatives, Chin claims he is currently overseas at an undisclosed location, having left Malaysia due to credible threats. According to the submission, intense media scrutiny and public accusations have placed him in a “reasonable fear of harm,” making physical return unsafe - for now.
But this is no ordinary civil case. At its core lies a high-stakes corporate battle involving millions. Former directors of M Jets Sdn Bhd, Gunasekar Mariappan and Philip Phang, are pursuing a RM49.85 million counterclaim filed in July 2023, against MMAG Holdings and several individuals, including Chin.
The dispute traces back to February 2023, when both directors were suspended following a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and subsequently removed.
MMAG then launched a civil suit in April 2023, seeking RM23.17 million in damages for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. What began as a boardroom conflict has since spiraled into a national talking point - fueled by allegations of shadowy networks manipulating corporate control.
Chin, however, insists he is not the architect of wrongdoing, but its victim. In his filings, he claims to be caught in a broader web of corporate misconduct currently under investigation and public scrutiny. His absence from Malaysia, his lawyers argue, is not an attempt to evade justice, but a temporary and necessary step for personal safety. They emphasize his willingness to participate fully in proceedings - albeit virtually - to avoid delaying the trial.
To reinforce his position, Chin’s legal team submitted a police report citing threats linked to a separate civil suit he filed against Bestinet Sdn Bhd founder Aminul Islam Abdul Nor - labor tycoon who manage Bangladeshi foreign worker intake system for the Malaysian government - and lawyer N.Sandraruben. In that suit, Chin alleges that Aminul is the true mastermind behind the so-called “corporate mafia,” accusing him of orchestrating pressure through enforcement agencies to seize control of companies, including NexG Bhd., a Kuala Lumpur-based firm long involved in supplying passport chips and immigration-related technology to the Malaysian government. In August and October, the company secured two separate six-year contracts with a combined value of RM2.46 billion (approximately $618 million) to produce Malaysian passports and national identity cards.
Yet, Chin’s request has been met with fierce resistance. Counsel for the opposing parties argues that his fears are exaggerated - and strategically convenient. Lawyer Kang Zhen Leong contends that Chin is deliberately avoiding a return to Malaysia to escape potential arrest over alleged links to money laundering and organized syndicates.
To critics, granting a virtual hearing could set a troubling precedent - one that allows individuals facing serious allegations to sidestep physical accountability. To Chin and his defenders, however, it is a pragmatic solution in an environment where legal battles have blurred into personal risk.
The controversy gained international traction following a report by Bloomberg News, which alleged that a network of businessmen had leveraged enforcement agencies to intimidate rivals and orchestrate corporate takeovers. Both Chin and the MACC have denied these claims, but the narrative has already ignited calls for deeper investigations - including demands for a Royal Commission of Inquiry.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, one question looms large: is Victor Chin a fugitive from justice - or a whistleblower caught in a dangerous game of corporate power?
Interestingly, the civil court proceedings are expected to reveal an intricate web of corporate takeover battles, the so-called “corporate mafia” game, and the players involved - almost like a case of one “corporate mafia” faction fighting another.
By: Kpost
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