A Malaysian journalist accused of accepting bribes to drop an investigation into a migrant-trafficking syndicate has returned to work, vowing to report “without fear or favour”.
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B. Nantha Kumar, 42, a senior reporter with prominent news portal Malaysiakini, was suspended on March 5 following his arrest and subsequent charge for accepting bribes from migrant agents to suppress a report on the trafficking ring he was investigating.
An internal inquiry commissioned by Malaysiakini cleared him, although he still faces a criminal trial.
Migrant trafficking remains rife in Malaysia, with criminal syndicates and corrupt officials at border entry points, particularly Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), enabling large-scale abuse.
Just last year, thousands of Bangladeshis who arrived on fraudulent job offers were pushed into illegal employment and overstayed their visas.
Nantha told This Week in Asia he was “glad to be back”.