Malaysian minister reportedly vouched for Paul Phua

Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has written a letter to the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States, claiming that Paul Phua was not a triad member and has assisted the Malaysian government on occasions relating to the country’s national security.
Mr Phua, a Malaysian national and a former junket operator in Macau, was arrested in Las Vegas in July on charges related to illegal bookmaking. He had been arrested in Macau on June 18 and posted bail on similar allegations of illegal wagering on World Cup football games.
According to the South China Morning Post, the letter, dated December 18, was submitted by Phua’s defense team to the US District Court in Las Vegas last week. Minister Zahid wrote in the letter, marked “private and confidential”, that Phua “is neither a member nor is he associated with the 14K Triad in Malaysia.”
“Mr Phua has, on numerous occasions, assisted the Government of Malaysia on projects affecting our national security and accordingly we continue to call upon him to assist us from time to time and as such we are eager for him to return to Malaysia,” the minister wrote. However, he did not elaborate on how Phua has assisted Malaysia in terms of its national security.
A counsel of Paul Phua claimed to the media on Saturday that Zahid was not vouching for Phua and was only responding to requests by Phua’s lawyers in the US. “Zahid is in the best position to inquire with the Royal Malaysian Police to ascertain if Phua is a member and associated with Hong Kong’s 14K triad here in Malaysia,” he claimed.
Paul Phua is scheduled to face the court again on February 9.