Tag Archives: Court

Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted : Guilty Of FTX Fraud!

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been found guilty and convicted on all counts of defrauding customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX!

Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted : Guilty Of FTX Fraud!

Sam Bankman-Fried, who is also known simply as SBF, has been found guilty on all counts of defrauding the customers of his crypto-exchange, FTX, on Thursday, 2 November 2023.

The former crypto billionaire stood and faced the jury that delivered its verdict after just four hours of deliberations. He was found guilt on all seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money, and now faces decades in prison at a separate sentencing hearing set for 28 March 2024.

The jury verdict brought an end to nearly a month of court proceedings, which saw his closest friends and partners turn witness against the former crypto king, and one of cryptocurrency’s most public faces.

Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history – a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the King of Crypto. This case has always been about lying, cheating, and stealing, and we have no patience for it.

– Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams

SBF maintained his innocence right to the end, maintaining that while he made mistakes, he acted in good faith. After his conviction, his lawyer issued this statement:

We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed with the result. Mr Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him

– Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer, Mark Cohen

It is currently unknown if SBF plans to appeal the verdict. In any case, this won’t be the last we see of him, as Bankman-Fried is also set to go on trial on a second set of charges brought by prosecutors earlier this year, for alleged foreign bribery and bank fraud conspiracies.

Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction : Warning To Other Fraudsters

After the jury convicted SBF, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams warned other fraudsters to take note of his fate.

When I became US attorney, I promised we would be relentless in rooting out corruption in our financial markets. This is what relentless looks like. This case moved at lightning speed – that was not a coincidence, that was a choice.

This case is also a warning to every fraudster who thinks they’re untouchable, that their crimes are too complex for us to catch, that they are too powerful to prosecute, or that they are clever enough to talk their way out of it if caught.

Those folks should think again and cut it out. And if they don’t, I promise we’ll have enough handcuffs for all of them.

Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction : All But Guaranteed

Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction was all but guaranteed after three of his former close friends and colleagues, including former on-off girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him in hopes of reducing their own sentences. They are to be sentenced at a later date.

They helped convict SBF by presenting evidence that the crypto-trading firm Alameda Research received deposits on behalf of FTX customers from the early days of the exchange, when traditional banks were unwilling to let it open an account.

Bankman-Fried was accused of swindling FTX customers out of some $10bn. Prosecutors said that his fraud extended from 2019 to November 2022, when FTX collapsed under the weight of a liquidity crisis, caused by the lending of customer funds to Alameda Research, without FTX customer’s knowledge or approval.

Instead of safeguarding FTX customer funds, SBF used the money to repay Alameda lenders, buy property and make investments, as well as political donations. When FTX went bankrupt in November 2022, Alameda owed it US$8 billion.

He took the money. He knew it was wrong. He did it anyway, because he thought he was smarter and better and that he could figure his way out of it.

– Assistant US Attorney Nicolas Roos

Before FTX’s collapse of his companies, Sam Bankman-Fried was known for appearing frequently in Washington and in the media to promote cryptocurrency. Despite a market downturn, the rapid growth of FTX earned him the moniker – king of crypto, which now appears to be a mirage.

Caroline Ellison testified that Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to shuttle customer funds into Alameda after the spring 2022 crypto downturn. Alameda was saddled with billions of dollars in open-term loans, and lenders started demanding their money back that summer. Alameda couldn’t repay the loans, and Bankman-Fried blamed Ellison for not hedging the fund’s money earlier that year.

Wang similarly implicated his former friend, naming “Sam Bankman-Fried, Nishad Singh and Caroline Ellison”, when the prosecution asked, “Who are the main people you committed these crimes with?”

Wang also told jurors that Sam Bankman-Fried wasn’t shocked by FTX’s massive debt. After telling him about the debt, SBF said “that sounds correct” with “a neutral demeanor”.

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FDA Asked To Fully Release Pfizer Vaccine Data By 2076?!

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Did the US FDA ask to fully release the Pfizer vaccine data only by the year 2076?!

Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!

Claim : FDA Asked To Fully Release Pfizer Vaccine Data By 2076!

The infamous DiedSuddenly account on X (formerly Twitter) just posted a screenshot of an article which claims that the US FDA just asked to fully release the Pfizer vaccine data only by the year 2076!

DiedSuddenly : What were they hiding?

Here is what the screenshot said:

FDA Asks Federal Judge to Grant it Until the Year 2076 to Fully Release Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Data

The fed gov’t shields Pfizer from liability. Gives it billions of dollars. Makes Americans take its products. But won’t let you see the data supporting its safety/efficacy. Who does the gov’t work for?

Aaron Siri
18 hr ago

Truth : FDA Did NOT Ask To Fully Release Pfizer Vaccine Data Only By 2076!

This is yet another example of misinformation posted by the infamous DiedSuddenly account on X (formerly Twitter), and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Screenshots Was From November 2021

First, let me just point out that the screenshot is not new or even recent, but was apparently taken in November 2021.

Aaron Siri posted that article on his Substack on 17 November 2021, and based on the time, the screenshot was likely taken on 17 or 18 November 2021.

Why would DiedSuddenly repost this screenshot almost 2 years later?

Fact #2 : FDA Did Not Ask To Fully Release Pfizer Vaccine Data By 2076

First, let me be clear – the US FDA did not ask to fully release the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine data only by the year 2076. In fact, as best as I could tell – the FDA never mentioned the date 2076.

That appears to be the “interpretation” of Aaron Siri, the lawyer working for PHMPT (Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency) – the group requesting the data that the FDA used to licence the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

As you will see below, it appears to be based on ignoring facts and basic math…

Fact #3 : FDA Has To Redact Files Before They Are Released

It is not simply a matter of handing over the documents to PHMPT. The FDA has to go through every document and redact information that are exempt from disclosure under FOIA, before it can release them.

That process is not only time-consuming, it is resource-intensive because it requires government information specialists to review each page line-by-line.

The FDA estimated that it would take 8 minutes per page to read and review records for FOIA production.

Fact #4 : FDA Had 400 Other Pending FOIA Requests

The FOIA request by PHMPT is being handled by the Access Litigation and Freedom of Information Branch at the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

That is a small department with just ten employees, including the director and two trainees. So they really only had just seven people who were trained well enough to process FOIA requests.

At that time, that small team was processing “approximately 400 currently pending FOIA requests“, while being embroiled in “6 active FOIA litigation matters“.

Needless to say, the heavy workload greatly limits how many pages this office can go through and redact every month.

Fact #5 : PHMPT Demanded 329,000 Pages!

The FDA asked PHMPT to narrow their request by specifying records they don’t require, so they can focus on processing the important documents they need.

The PHMPT, however, insisted that the FDA process and deliver ALL documents related to the approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – some 329,000 pages!

That would require a processing rate of over 80,000 pages per month – far in excess of what the FDA FOIA office is capable of handling.

Fact #6 : FDA Vaccine Approval Is Different From FOIA Process

It seems obvious, but it has to be said – the FDA vaccine approval process is different from the FOIA process.

The vaccine approval process involves FDA scientists evaluating the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation) or full FDA approval.

The FOIA process, on the other hand, involves FDA information specialists going through each page line-by-line to identify and redact proprietary information.

Fact #7 : FDA Vaccine Approval Process Adds A Ton Of New Documents

The FDA vaccine approval team went through fewer documents, because they only need to look at relevant information provided by Pfizer and BioNTech.

The FDA team in charge of this FOIA request would necessarily have to go through far more documents, because the approval process itself adds a ton of new documentation.

Even the PHMPT acknowledged that, specifically asking for “all correspondence and written summaries of oral discussions” related to the FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Hence, it is ludicrous for the PHMPT to suggest that the two processes were similar in effort and time.

Fact #8 : FDA Processes FOIA Requests In 500-Page Blocks

The FDA processes FOIA requests in 500-page blocks, which allow them to provide documents to more requesters, and avoid a few large requests monopolising their “finite processing resources”.

This is not a special processing limitation on the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine data, but a standard FDA processing rate that the courts have upheld for a long time.

Fact #9 : FDA Processing FOIA Requests Faster Than Proposed

The FDA was able to process some records faster than the 500-page rate, as they noted in their 6 December 2021 brief. They also said that they can release more than 12,000 pages by end of January 2022.

Even back in December 2021, the FDA was doing above and beyond what it pledged to do, delivering almost 5000 pages per month – about 10X its promised rate.

At that rate, the FDA would finish processing 329,000 pages in 69 months – just under 6 years. Obviously, 6 years is far less than the 55 years claimed… and would put the end date at sometime in 2027, not 2076.

Fact #10 : It Would Take PHMPT Months To Read Everything

PHMPT stated that they are a group of over 30 people. Let’s say they are 35 strong, and they take the same 8 minutes to read through each page.

Even if they all sat down and read for 8 hours a day, it would take them over 7 months just to read through the 329,000 pages ONCE.

And it should be noted that this involves 5X more people than the FDA FOIA team, and they are all dedicated to this singular task of reading those Pfizer documents.

Fact #11 : PHMPT Took Almost 108 Days To Read 5 Documents!

PHMPT took almost 108 days to read through the first batch of five documents that the FDA released to them on 17 November 2021.

It was only in early March 2022 when they found the 9 pages listing some 1,291 adverse events of special interest.

This not only proves that the FDA was right about how much time it takes to read these documents, it also shows that the PHMPT does not really need all 329,000 documents within 108 days.

After all, it took the PHMPT almost that long just to read 5 documents! At this rate, it will take them some 16,450 years to read all 329,000 Pfizer documents…

Fact #12 : FDA Released Almost All Of PHMPT Priority List By Jan 2022

PHMPT appears to be cognisant that it is stupid to request for “everything” when most of the pages may not be relevant at all.

That’s why they sent the FDA a priority list of eight (8) items. And guess what – the US FDA was able to provide seven (7) of those items by January 31, 2022!

So Aaron Siri’s public griping about the FDA taking so long appears to be nothing more than theatre.

Fact #13 : Judge Asked FDA To Release 55,000 Pages A Month

On 6 January 2022, US District Judge Mark Pittman ordered a compromise, noting that “the Court recognises the “unduly burdensome” challenges that this FOIA request may present to the FDA“.

The FDA will produce “more than 12,000 pages” as it proposed, by 31 January 2022.
The FDA will produce the remaining documents at a rate of 55,000 pages per month, starting 1 March 2022.

Granted, the FDA did not win the right to continue processing at its own pace, but neither did the judge agree to let PHMPT force the FDA to deliver all documents within 108 days. It was ultimately a compromise.

For certain, Judge Pittman’s order would mean that the FDA would have to fully release the Pfizer vaccine documents by August 2022!

His January 2022 judgement effectively wiped out the claim that FDA will only fully release the data by 2076. So it is curious why the DiedSuddenly account on X (formerly Twitter) would repost this old claim…

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Prevention of Terrorism Act : Does POTA Ban News Sharing?!

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Has the sharing of news been banned in Malaysia using the Prevention of. Terrorism Act – POTA?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : News Sharing Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act

This warning about the Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA keeps going viral in WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here is the original warning in Malay, and our English translation in bold):

No more sharing of news posting after this.

” AKTA POTA YANG TELAH DILULUSKAN MALAM TADI DI PARLIMEN…

THE POTA ACT WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT…

Akta Pencegahan Keganasan (POTA) 2015 yang telah diluluskan Dewan Rakyat boleh dikenakan kpd PENGHASUT PEMBENCI KERAJAAN dilaman2 sosial spti Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, dsb. Polis akan menahan mana-mana penyebar Fitnah Kepada Pemimpin Negara termasuk yg mengubahuai gambar pemimpin negara bagi mewujud dan menanam kebencian di kalangan rakyat! Tahanan POTA minima selama 2 tahun. Tidak boleh dicabar di semua Mahkamah. Pusat Tahanan di sebuah Pulau berkeluasan 1000 Ekar di Utara Sabah telah bersedia menanti penghuninya selepas OPS POTA 2015 dilancarkan tidak lama lagi.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 which has been approved by the Dewan Rakyat can be applied to inciters who hate the GOVERNMENT on social media such as Whatsapp, FB, Tweeter, Blog, etc. The police will arrest any person who spreads defamation against national leaders, including those who alter the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people! Minimum POTA detention for 2 years. Cannot be challenged in all Courts. The Detention Center on a 1000 Acre Island in the North of Sabah is ready to await its residents after the OPS POTA 2015 is launched soon.

Hati-hatilah ye…

Be careful…

Even if you just cut and paste, you can be charged for distribution and dissemination. So please take extreme careful.

Attention all Chat Groups ;

Please STOP immediately from circulating any sensitive issues.

Malaysian government has “Passed the Amendment” to the Sedition Act few days ago.

Please note that its an offence now to “propagate” any material that is deemed to be of “seditious tendency”
Its heavier fine and jail term 20 years.

Be careful what you send in social media. Also note that intent is not necessary for sedition.

That means you can’t say you didn’t intend to spread or send the material to cause disharmony or cause anyone feelings to be hurt.

U may want to forward this msg to anyone who is unaware of this law.

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Truth : News Sharing NOT Banned By POTA / Prevention of Terrorism Act!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : Prevention of Terrorism Act Was Passed In 2015

First, I should point out that this is really old fake news. It started in April 2015, and keeps recirculating every few years.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA 2015 (Akta Pencegahan Keganasan 2015) was passed by the Malaysian government on 7 April 2015, and coincided with the arrest of seventeen suspected militants who were allegedly involved in a terror plot in Kuala Lumpur.

Fact #2 : POTA 2015 Targets Terrorism, Not Politics

POTA 2015 is not meant to target any healthy discussion of politics or political issues in Malaysia. Rather, it’s designed to tackle the threat of terrorism in Malaysia:

To prevent the conduct or support for acts of violence involving terrorist organisation of a foreign country.
To ensure that individual involved in terrorist activities do not escape legislative action.
To ensure that Malaysia’s citizens and its security are not threatened by those involved in militant activities.

Fact #3 : POTA 2015 Does Not Ban Sharing Of News

POTA 2015 does not target people who share news on WhatsApp or social media, even if it’s of sensitive issues. It targets people who are engaged in acts of terrorism, not people who are spreading fake news or criticisms of the government.

Hence, POTA 2015 cannot be used to block people who from sharing this POTA 2015 fake news, which is why the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had to ask people to stop sharing the fake news, instead of just locking them up!

Even then, people continue to share this fake news about POTA 2015 for the last 7 years on WhatsApp and social media…

Of course, if necessary, the police can use the long-existing Penal Code, and Sedition Act 1948 to prosecute people who share fake news, but that’s another story.

Fact #4 : PDRM Calls Viral Message Fake News

On June 11, 2015, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) publicly posted a long debunking of this viral POTA 2015 warning, calling it “fake news”. Here is the English translation:

PLEASE DON’T SHARE FAKE NEWS ABOUT POTA!!!

✅POTA or Prevention of Terrorism Act (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was not enacted to deal with the issue of incitement but the issue of terrorist activity which the issue of this activity has been enshrined in other substantive laws including Chapter VI and Chapter VIA in the Penal Code.

✅POTA also applies when these terrorist activities involve entities that have been listed in Sections 66B and 66C of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities (AMLATFAPUA) Act 2001.

The allegation that this POTA will be used to incite GOVERNMENT HATERS on social media or those who modify the image of national leaders to create and instill hatred among the people is absolutely FALSE. POTA is to deal with TERROR and NOT SEDIMENT.

POTA also cannot be used to detain someone just because of his political beliefs or activities. However, if the party/member/follower of a political party is involved in terrorist activities, then POTA is applicable.

✅The POTA Act prevents before the terrorist activities are carried out. Do you want to see KLCC & KLIA blown up by terrorists, before action is taken? Do you want your children to be involved in terrorist activities, then when the rice has become porridge, new actions are taken? This is because in cases of terrorism, the evidence obtained is in the form of intelligence and most of these evidences are difficult to bring to Court due to the refusal of witnesses to appear in Court to give evidence.

✅This Act is preventive in nature where the Minister’s executive power to impose punishment has been transferred to the Terrorism Prevention Board appointed by the Yang DiPertua Agong (YDPA). The members of the Board are made up of those who have at least 15 years of experience in the field of law.

✅The decision of this Board can be challenged by Judicial Review.

✅ Advocates are allowed to be present when evidence is taken by the Inquiry Officer (IO) appointed by YDPA and the IO must not be a PDRM member/officer.

✅POTA Detention Orders can be challenged, therefore the allegation that POTA Detention Orders cannot be challenged is completely untrue.

✅This Detention Order must also be taken to another Advisory Board as provided for in Article 151 of the Federal Constitution.

✅Considering that POTA is a preventive law, the detainees will undergo a Special Rehabilitation Module that has been designed to neutralize their understanding of extemism, which modules emphasize religious aspects (according to the detainee’s religion), moral and spiritual aspects as well as family relationship issues which family members prisoners are also involved in giving encouragement to the prisoners to successfully continue the neutralization process.

✅It should be remembered that this prevention law is a prevention and not a punitive law.
The information about the detention center on a 1000 acre island in the north of Sabah is not true. This is not like the Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay that held the notorious criminal Al-Capone. Instead, the detainees will be placed in a Special Detention Center.

POTA vs ISA

✅POTA or the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 is a preventive law enacted by the Government to deal with any individual or group that commits acts of violence.

✅ This act is not to punish but to detain as prevention and further restore through the Rehabilitation Program organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the police, prisons, Jakim and other Government agencies.

✅POTA is different from ISA because POTA will only be used against terrorists. Can’t be caught randomly.

✅ POTA cannot be equated with ISA. Among the most notable differences are:

▶ Detention Order for ISA is issued by the Minister of Home Affairs whereas POTA is issued by an independent Board whose members are appointed by His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. So, for POTA, the minister has no power at all to issue orders or instructions.

▶Before an individual is subject to a Detention Order or Restriction Order, they need to go through a period of detention for police investigation or also called a remand prisoner. The total is 60 days for ISA and POTA. But it is different because the ISA gives full authority to the police to detain directly for 60 days before the Minister issues a Detention or Restriction Order. While POTA needs to be taken to the Magistrate’s Court for the extension of the remand period. So…very different….?

✅One more thing, if ISA, the subject cannot see the family while POTA can see the family or next of kin during the period of detention for police investigation or remand.

✅Finally, for ISA, after a 60-day remand by the police, the Minister will issue an order. As for POTA, it is not the Minister who issues the Order or ‘order’ but an independent Board. In fact, an inquiry officer will conduct an inquiry or investigation to make a ‘recommendation’ whether the subject is involved or not. It should be remembered that the Inquiry Officer cannot be appointed from among the police but they are made up of scheme L officers which is the Law. So it can be seen how transparent this POTA is and there is no issue why this POTA needs to be equated with ISA.

I call for you to spread this explanation instead of false information that can cause annoyance among the community.

DO NOT COPY IF YOU CAN’T PASTE.

DON’T BE POISON IF YOU CAN’T BE A CURE.

It should be noted that spreading false information that can cause public uproar on any social media platform is an offense and can be prosecuted under existing laws including the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Beware – KL Police To Conduct Massive Traffic Op In July 2023!

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Be warned – the KL police just announced it will conduct a massive traffic op throughout Kuala Lumpur for the month of July 2023!

Massive KL Police Traffic Op To Involve 1000 Officers!

On Tuesday, 28 June 2023, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief, Dato’ Mohd Shuhaily bin Mohd Zain officiated the launching ceremony of the KL police’s Kuala Lumpur Police Operation Respect for Road Laws together with Other Enforcement Agencies (Operasi Hormat Undang-undang Jalan Raya Polis Kuala Lumpur Bersama Agensi-agensi Penguatkuasaan Yang Lain).

This massive KL police operation will take place throughout Kuala Lumpur, for the entire month of July 2023. This operation will be conducted not just by the KL police, but also the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the KL city hall (DBKL), and the Environment Department (JAS).

Roughly 1000 police personnel and officers from other agencies will be involved in this operation, but they will focus on their respective jurisdictions:

This operation will involve about 1,000 officers and police personnel with the respective agencies focusing on the offences under their own jurisdiction.

KL Police Traffic Op In July 2023 To Focus On 7 Aspects

Together with partner agencies, the massive KL police traffic operation in July 2023 will involve checking on illegal parking, obstruction of traffic, running red lights, illegal number plates, illegal tinting, and offences committed by motorcyclists.

Enforcement officials will immediately issue summonses to motorists and pedestrians caught flouting traffic laws during this operation, which will involve seven separate operations to curb traffic offences:

Operation Illegal Parking (Op Parkir Haram)
Operation Traffic Obstruction (Op Halangan)
Operation Red Light (Op Lampu Merah)
Operation Number Plates (Op Numbor Pendaftaran)
Operation Dark Tinting (Op Cermin Gelap)
Operation Motorcycle (Op Motosikal)
Operation Education (Op Didik)

Police and enforcement officers will also take this opportunity to educate motorists and pedestrians on the dangers of not obeying traffic rules.

In addition to looking out for traffic offences, the KL police will also run background checks on motorists for outstanding arrest warrants and criminal records, and look for stolen vehicles.

While not involved in traffic offences, the KL Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department will also be on the lookout for drug-related offences during this operation.

Finally, the police will also take action against workshops that are conducting illegal modifications of vehicles.

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KJ + Noor Hisham just sued by COVID vaccine victims?!

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Were KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga just sued by COVID-19 vaccine victims in Malaysia?!

Let’s take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : KJ + Noor Hisham Just Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims!

People are sharing an AgendaDaily article (in Malay) on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin) and Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah just sued by victims of the COVID-19 vaccine in Malaysia!

The viral post also claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine victims also sued the three COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in Malaysia – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga.

KJ, Dr Noor Hisham sued over Covid-19 vaccine issue

🚻ı|ı🔥NO☆🔥ı|ı ﷽
Three Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers were also sued, Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga

15 O6 2O23
ABE YES NO

KOTA KINABALU: A group of vaccine recipients filed a lawsuit against the government and the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM), especially the former minister in charge of the national vaccination program, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar after claiming to be a victim of the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Citing a Sinar Harian report, a total of 44 victims represented by the law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co also filed a lawsuit against the former Director of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and three manufacturers of the Covid-19 vaccine – Pfizer, Astrazeneca and Pharmaniaga.

Lawyer, Muhammad Shahrin Satheer said, the group claimed that the Ministry of Health gave an invalid declaration and it was an agreement forced by the defendant to prevent them from being taken action from the severe side effects of the vaccine injection.

He also informed that his client demanded that the defendant be held responsible for the effect of the Covid-19 vaccine injection on the plaintiff which had caused severe side effects resulting in losses.

“Our client is demanding general damages and special damages that the defendant must pay to the plaintiff as a result of the severe side effects of the Covid-19 injection which has caused death, permanent disability and other complications resulting in loss and loss of life suffered by the plaintiff- plaintiff,” he said.

He said, the lack of proof of the vaccine having been clinically tested before being used on consumers is also one of the basis of the lawsuit.

“The plaintiff is also demanding an interim injunction to prevent the defendant from widely providing the Covid-19 vaccine to other Malaysians until a clinical study is conducted and a complete report is prepared,” he said.
1⃣ı|ı🔥NO☆ACO🔥ı|ı ﷽

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Truth : KJ + Noor Hisham Sued By COVID Vaccine Victims In 2022!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccines, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Agenda Daily Article Copied From Sinar Harian

I should start by pointing out that the Agenda Daily article is an almost exact copy of its source, a Sinar Harian article.

Fact #2 : Likely Source For False Claims About Sabah Lawsuit

I should also point out this piece of fake news is possibly the source for the earlier false claims that people in Sabah just filed a lawsuit against the Malaysia Ministry of Health (KKM) for forced vaccination.

As mentioned in my fact check article, I can find no evidence of such a lawsuit by people in Sabah. This viral message is the only one that suggests that a COVID-19 vaccination lawsuit was filed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Fact #3 : No Evidence Lawsuit Was Filed In Kota Kinabalu

The viral message mentioned Kota Kinabalu as the location, which appears to be completely false. The Agenda Daily article it listed as its source did not mention any location.

But the original article by Sinar Harian mentioned Shah Alam, Selangor, as its location. The law firm Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. is also based in Rawang, Selangor.

Therefore, the lawsuit was likely filed in Shah Alam, and not Kota Kinabalu as alleged by the viral message.

Fact #4 : Original News Was Published November 2022

The original news was originally published on 16 November 2022, and not on 15 June 2023 as suggested by the viral message.

Noor Hisham Abdullah retired on 21 April 2023, while Khairy Jamaluddin ceased being the Malaysia Minister of Health on 24 November 2022. Whoever created that viral message took care to change their status to match the new date.

Fact #5 : Lawsuit Was Allegedly Filed In November 2022

The Sinar Harian article mentioned that on 16 November 2022, 44 people represented by Shahrin Satheer Kamal & Co. filed a lawsuit against:

Malaysia Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin
Malaysia Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Pharmaniaga

However, a day later – on 17 November 2022, Khairy Jamaluddin said at a press conference that he has yet to receive any lawsuit notice:

I have not received the notice of the summons. When I receive it, I will ask the lawyer I will appoint to answer it.

Since then, there has been no update on this lawsuit, so it is unknown if it was actually filed, or what has occurred since it was filed.

Fact #6 : Malaysia Has A COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Fund

Like most countries around the world, Malaysia has a COVID-19 vaccine injury fund. Established on 21 March 2021, it is called Bantuan Khas Kewangan Kesan Mudarat Vaksin COVID-19 (Special Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Effects), and pays out:

RM 50,000 for serious side effects that requires extended hospitalisation
RM 500,000 for permanent disability or death from the COVID-19 vaccine

If anyone is injured or dies as a result of the COVID-19 vaccines, the victim or the victim’s family can file for compensation with this fund. There is no need to file a lawsuit (and pay any legal fees) to get compensated.

Fact #7 : COVID-19 Vaccines Were Proven Safe + Effective

All COVID-19 vaccines underwent large clinical trials and were proven to be safe and effective, before receiving their Emergency Use Authorisation. Hence, it is wrong to claim that COVID-19 vaccines were never tested in a clinical trial.

In addition, approved COVID-19 vaccines continued to be monitored for safety and efficacy, and many eventually received their full FDA approval after many months of post-marketing monitoring.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Is Ukraine Investigating Zelenskyy For High Treason?!

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Is the State Bureau of Investigation investigating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for High Treason against Ukraine?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Ukraine SBI Is Investigating Zelenskyy For High Treason!

People are sharing an article by Scotland Today online, which claims that the Ukraine SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) is investigating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for High Treason!

Similar claims are also being made by pro-Russia (vatnik) websites and social media accounts. The article is long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Zelenskyy to be investigated for “High Treason,” by Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation

The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv issued a ruling to oblige the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation to start a pre-trial investigation in connection with the possible treason of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former Verkhovna Rada deputy Geo Leros said on May 30 in his Telegram channel.

“Let me remind you that the pocket SBI refused to investigate Zelenskyy’s high treason when he appointed FSB agents to key positions in the SBU, but we were obliged by the court to enter information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations and begin a pre-trial investigation,” the former deputy said.

He cited a photograph of a copy of the ruling of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, by which the court obliges the State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a pre-trial investigation at the request of Leros. In his message on the Telegram channel, the deputy clarified that the court ordered to initiate a criminal case “against Zelensky and co” under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason).

According to Mr Leos, Zelenskyy himself, the head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak, his deputy Roman Mashovets, as well as the ex-chairman of the SBU Ivan Bakanov and the former deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Ruslan Demchenko are the main defendants, thanks to whom FSB agents were allegedly appointed to the special services.

According to Mr Leros, these appointments have led to tens of thousands of dead Ukrainians. The MP demanded that the traitors be held accountable for serious crimes against the Ukrainian people.

Show less

Truth : Zelenskyy Pre-Trial Investigation Is Just Protocol

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS promoted by pro-Russia activists to diminish support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Geo Leros Is Accusing Zelenskyy Of High Treason

The accusation that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy committed high treason was not brought by the state of Ukraine itself, but by one of the former members of his own party, Geo Leros.

Geo Leros is a Ukrainian Member of Parliament, who was elected to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) as a member of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party. However, he soon turned against his colleagues, and started accusing Zelenskyy of violating election promises, and Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, of corruption.

He was since expelled from the Servant of the People’s party, and has since been actively working to bring down the Zelenskyy administration. In March 2023, he accused the Ukrainian authorities of censoring TV broadcasts, and corruption – with over 20 million dollars transferred to TV oligarchs.

Now, Geo Leros is accusing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of committing high treason against the state of Ukraine, by appointing Russian FSB agents to key positions in the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine).

Committed to open a criminal case of Article 111 (treason) against Zelensky and co!

I remind you that the pocket SBR refused to investigate Zelensky’s treason when he appointed FSB agents to key positions in the SBU, but we were obliged by the court to report to the Yardr and start a pre-trial investigation.

Zelensky, Ermak, Mashovets, Bakanov, Demchenko should be questioned as the main figures of the appointment of FSB agents in the Security Service of Ukraine.

These freaks must show who and how much paid them for these appointments, because these appointments have led to tens of thousands of dead Ukrainians.

I will not allow these traitors to escape responsibility for serious crimes against the Ukrainian people!

Fact #2 : The Letter Appears To Be Genuine

The letter that Geo Leros posted on Instagram, and shared excitedly by pro-Russian websites and social media accounts, appears to be genuine. Here is a machine translation of the letter:

PECHERSKY DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF KYIV

Document No. 757/21124/23-k

RESOLVED IN THE NAME OF UKRAINE

On May 30, 2023, the Investigating Judge of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv – T.V. Ostapchuk, under the secretary – K.S. Lymar,
with:
complainant – Leros H.B.
representative of the complainant – lawyer Sayenko V.V.
Having considered in an open court session in the courtroom in Kyiv the proceedings on the complaint of Leros Geo Bagratovych about the inactivity of the investigator, regarding the failure to submit information to the EDPR according to the application No. 23d9/7-2023/88804 dated 04/26/2023, –

Guided by Part 2 of Art. 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, investigating judge, –

УХВАЛИВ:

Complaint of Leros Geo Bagratovych against the inaction of the investigator, regarding the failure to provide information
To the ERDR according to the request dated 04/26/2023 No. 23,9/7-2023/88804 – to satisfy.

Oblige authorized persons of the State Bureau of Investigation to enter information into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations based on the application of Leros Geo Bagratovych dated 04/26/2023 No. 239/7-2023/88804 on the commission of a criminal offense and to start a pre-trial investigation, about which to inform the applicant.

Praise is not subject to appeal.

The full text of the resolution will be announced on June 2, 2023 at 1:50 p.m.

Fact #3 : The Court Order Did Not Order Criminal Investigation

While the letter is being framed as evidence that Geo Leros succeeded in opening a criminal investigation of High Treason against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other members of his administration, it is merely protocol.

In November 2012, a new Code of Criminal Procedure was introduced in Ukraine, in which Article 214 states that all reports of criminal offences must be registered for Pre-trial Investigations within 24 hours.

This is a standard procedure for all accusations or reports of criminal offences, regardless of whether they are genuine or not.

The investigator, interrogating officer, prosecutor immediately, but no later than 24 hours after filing an application, reporting a criminal offense or after independently identifying from any source circumstances that may indicate the commission of a criminal offense, is obliged to enter the relevant information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations to start investigation and, 24 hours after entering such information, provide the applicant with an extract from the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.

What the Pecherskyi district court ordered in the letter is merely to order that the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) comply with Article 214 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and file Geo Leros’ report of high treason for Pre-trial Investigation.

According to Article 2019 of the same code, the SBI has 18 months to conduct a Pre-trial Investigation of “grave and especially grave crimes”. After that, the SBI is obliged to either close the proceedings if it finds no evidence of a crime, or send an indictment to the court.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Fake News About Ukraine

This is just another example of fake news created to reduce support for Ukraine during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here are other examples you may have seen on social media:

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Was Pfizer Just Fined $2.3 Billion For Vaccine Fraud?!

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Was Pfizer just fined $2.3 billion for the COVID-19 vaccine fraud?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Pfizer Was Just Fined $2.3 Billion For Vaccine Fraud!

People are sharing a video clip on WhatsApp, TikTok, Twitter, and other social media platforms, claiming that Pfizer was just fined $2.3 billion for the COVID-19 vaccine fraud!

Pfizer Vaccine Manufacturer Has Agreed To Pay 2.3 Billion Dollars

Justice Department Announces Largest Health Care Fraud Settlement in Its History
Pfizer to Pay $2.3 Billion for Fraudulent Marketing

The video shows Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli saying:

Pfizer has agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the Department of Justice.

Within that $2.3 billion is a criminal fine of $1.195 billion which makes it the largest criminal fine in history.

Today’s landmark settlement is an example of the Department of Justice’s ongoing and intensive efforts to protect the American public and recover funds for the federal treasury and the public from those who seek to earn a profit from fraud.

It shows one of the many ways that the federal government, in partnership with our state and local allies, can help the American public at a time when budgets are tight, and healthcare costs are increasing.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pfizer-2.3-billion-dollar-settement-video.mp4?_=1

Truth : Pfizer Was Not Fined $2.3 Billion For Vaccine Fraud!

This appears to be yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : Pfizer Fraud Settlement Occurred In 2009

First, let me just point out that Pfizer did indeed agree to pay $2.3 billion – the largest healthcare fraud settlement in the history of the US Department of Justice.

However, that did not happen recently. The historic fraud settlement (official announcement) happened on September 2, 2009 – more than 13.5 years ago! Needless to say – this occurred long before the COVID-19 vaccines were invented.

Thomas Perrelli, who appeared in the viral video, stepped down as associate attorney general in 2012 – more than 11 years ago.

Fact #2 : Pfizer Fraud Settlement Had Nothing To Do With Vaccines

The 2009 Pfizer fraud settlement not only had nothing to do with COVID-19 vaccines (which were invented 11 years later!), it also had nothing to do with any kind of vaccine!

In that case, Pfizer pleaded guilty to illegally promoting four drugs :

Bextra : an anti-inflammatory drug
Geodon : an anti-psychotic drug
Zyvox : an antibiotic, and
Lyrica : an anti-epileptic drug

Fact #3 : Pfizer Then Was Under Jeff Kindler

At the time of the 2009 fraud case, Pfizer was under the leadership of Jeff Kindler, who was elected as Chief Executive Officer on July 28, 2006, and also as Chairman later that year. Jeff Kindler retired in December 2010.

The current Pfizer CEO is Albert Bourla, who ascended to the post on January 1, 2019 – more than 9 years after the historic fraud case, and Jeff Kindler’s retirement. Regardless of what Pfizer may have done in 2009, the current CEO is two administrations past that.

Fact #4 : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Was Created By BioNTech

The COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine was not developed by Pfizer, but by the German biotechnology company, BioNTech.

As it is a small company, BioNTech partnered with Pfizer to carry out clinical trials, logistics and manufacturing of its mRNA COVID-19, then known by its development name, BNT162b2.

To be clear – BioNTech is not a Pfizer subsidiary, or beholden to Pfizer. It became a public-listed company on the NASDAQ on 10 October 2019 – just before the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Fact #5 : Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Has Been Proven Safe + Effective

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine underwent a large clinical trial, and was proven safe and effective before it received it received its Emergency Use Authorisation. Then, after months of post-marketing safety monitoring, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received its full FDA approval on August 23, 2021.

Several billion doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have already been administered worldwide. In the United States alone, about 367 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been administer up to April 26, 2023.

In the past 2.5 years, health authorities worldwide have monitored the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for safety issues, and identified rare side effects like anaphylaxis and myocarditis. But otherwise, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continues to be regarded as safe and effective.

Fact #6 : This Is Just Anti-Vaccine Fake News

Anti-vaccination proponents are not interested in your health, which is why they keep spreading misinformation about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some other examples I recently fact checked:

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Woman Smash Bottles Of Alcohol In Lawless US?!

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Does a viral video show a woman smashing hundreds of bottles of alcohol in lawless US?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Woman Smashed Bottles Of Alcohol In Lawless US!

Pro-CCP netizens and the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) are sharing this video on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) and WhatsApp, as evidence of a lawless US.

The video shows a woman smashing hundreds of bottles of alcohol, allegedly in a Walmart store in the United States. It’s accompanied by messages like this:

‘Zero dollar shopping’ can only take away all you can grab. This one, just destroy everything on site.

No wonder Walmart will close 21 stores in 12 US states and Washington DC. Four Chicago stores are among the latest to join the list.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Woman-smashes-bottles-of-alcohol.mp4?_=2

Truth : Woman Did Not Smash Bottles Of Alcohol In US!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by pro-CCP netizens, and promoted / shared by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and its supporters, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : This Video Was Edited

First, let me just point out that the viral video clip was edited, presumably to cast a different light on the story.

The video clip was cut short so you won’t see a security officer leading her away. It was also flipped in half the video to extend the video and make it look like the woman was doing more damage than she really was, and possibly to make it harder for people to locate the source of the video.

Fact #2 : Viral Video Was Recorded In 2020

The viral video isn’t new, even though the wumao and pro-CCP netizens are suggesting it just happened. The video was actually recorded at around 2:30 PM on Thursday, 25 November 2020.

Fact #3 : Viral Video Was Recorded In The United Kingdom

While the wumao and pro-CCP netizens are promoting the video as evidence of a lawless US (as opposed to the glorious security of CCP-controlled China), the viral video was not even recorded in the United States!

The incident also did not occur in a Walmart. The viral video was recorded at an Aldi store, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Fact #4 : The Woman Did Not Steal Anything

While the wumao and pro-CCP netizens are promoting the video as evidence of rampant theft (because no one steals in CCP-controlled China?), the woman did not steal a thing!

The woman – 36 year-old Barbara Stange-Alvarez of Swingate, used her arm to sweep hundreds of bottles of alcohol off the shelves at Aldi the aisle containing bottles of alcohol, and started sweeping bottles off the shelves, before picking them up one by one to smash on the floor.

About 90 seconds into her smashing spree, she slipped and fell onto the broken glass, cutting her hand. A security officer from another store arrived and detained her until police arrived. They then took her to the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, where she kicked a security guard in the shin and hurled racial insults at him.

Barbara was charged with criminal damage, racially-motivated common assault, and racially-aggravated public order offence. She was not charged with theft.

Fact #5 : The Woman Was Mentally Unwell

Stange-Alvarez later told the St. Albans Magistrates’ Court that she was “suffering from mental health issues” because she was unable to work during the pandemic. She also said she was not receiving the treatment she thought she should have.

On the day she smashed those bottles, she visited a local mental health clinic seeking help, but was unhappy with the response and “lost the plot”.

On 18 January 2022, Barbara Stange-Alvarez was given a 12-week sentence suspended for 18 months, and required to undergo mental health treatment and rehabilitation, as well as pay Aldi £5,000 in compensation, and court costs of £85.

Fact #6 : Walmart Closing 23 Stores Due To Poor Performance

The fake news creator copied the phrase “Walmart will close 21 stores in 12 states and DC. Four Chicago stores are among the latest to join the list.” from a Business Insider article, without actually reading it properly.

The article actually states that, in addition to those 12 retail stores, Walmart is also closing pick-up only stores in Illinois and Arkansas. That’s a total of 23 stores.

Theft at Walmart stores has always been an issue, as Walmart CEO Doug McMillion pointed out, but it does not mean the stores will close because of it:

Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been. Prices will be higher and/or stores will close.

Walmart has been quietly closing stores every year since 2019, because they were “underperforming” and had “poor financial performance”.

Fact #7 : This Is Shameless Chinese Propaganda

This is yet another example of Chinese propaganda created by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) or pro-CCP netizens.

All of the wumao articles that I looked at so far have proven to be false… in every instance. So please watch out for such false claims. Here is just the latest dozen,.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Former exec: China has backdoor access to TikTok data!

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A former top ByteDance executive is alleging that the China has backdoor access to all TikTok data!

Former Exec : China Has Backdoor Access To TikTok Data!

A former top executive at ByteDance – TikTok’s parent company, has just claimed that it built a “backdoor channel” in its code to allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supreme access to user data in TikTok.

This revelation came as part of the lawsuit that Roger Yu Yintao, filed against ByteDance for wrongful termination from his job as head of engineering in the United States. He says he worked there from August 2017 till November 2018.

In his lawsuit filed on May 12 at the San Francisco Superior Court, Roger Yu alleges that he was fired from his job for his “observation and reporting of illegal conduct” at ByteDance to his supervisors.

He said he observed ByteDance being “responsive to the CCP’s requests” to share, elevate, or even remove content”, describing the company as “a useful propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party”, and is engaged in a “culture of lawlessness”.

More shockingly, he claimed that the CCP has a special office in ByteDance, sometimes referred to as the “Committee”. Its task was allegedly to monitor ByteDance, and advise it on how to advance “core Communist values”.

He also claimed that the CCP “Committee” can demote content it viewed as unfavourable to China’s interests, and even has a “death switch” to turn off Chinese versions of its apps.

Roger Yu also claimed that he “saw the backdoor channel in the code”. If true, such a backdoor would give China and the CCP government unfettered access to all data in TikTok, no matter where the data is located.

The Committee maintained supreme access to all the company data, even data stored in the United States.

Roger Yu Yintao (left) and ByteDance founder, Zhang Yiming, at ByteDance, 2015

Allegedly, ByteDance was “aware that if the Chinese government’s backdoor was removed from the international / US version of the app, the Chinese government would, it feared, ban the company’s valuable Chinese-version apps”.

Roger Yu also accused ByteDance of scraping data from its competitors – mainly Instagram and Snapchat, without users’ permission. He claimed that ByteDance used software to “systematically” collect videos from its competitors, and repost them to its own platform using fake accounts, without their creators’ permission.

ByteDance Denies Allegations Of Backdoor Access For China

A ByteDance spokesperson has denied the allegations laid out in Roger Yu Jintao’s lawsuit, claiming that he only worked for a short time on an unrelated app called Flipagram, which was discontinued for business reasons.

We plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint.

Mr. Yu worked for ByteDance Inc. for less than a year and his employment ended in July 2018.

According to earlier reporting of Roger Yu Yintao’s lawsuit, he realised that ByteDance had been engaged for years in a “worldwide scheme” to steal and profit from content created on other platforms soon after he began his job.

In response to those allegations, the ByteDance spokesperson said that the company is “committed to respecting the intellectual property of other companies, and we acquire data in accordance with industry practices and our global policy.”

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Did ICC Just Issue Arrest Warrant For Joe Biden?!

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Did the ICC (International Criminal Court) just issue an arrest warrant for President Joe Biden for attacking the Nord Stream pipelines?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : ICC Just Issued Arrest Warrant For President Joe Biden!

People are sharing a YouTube video which shows the ICC (International Criminal Court) issuing an arrest warrant for President Joe Biden for his role in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines!

BREAKING NEWS!! Arrest Warrant Issued For President Biden For Nord Stream

How To Be A Hypocrite From AlienJacket Show How The Actions Of The West Divides The World Instead Of Bring It Together.

Truth : ICC Did Not Issue Arrest Warrant For President Joe Biden!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by pro-Russia activists, and promoted / shared by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : This Video Was From July 2022

While this video is being presented as new – “Breaking News!!“, it is actually more than 9 months old.

I traced the video to the opening statement of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan QC, which was recorded on July 14, 2022.

Fact #2 : ICC Called For Cooperation Into Ukraine War Crimes Probe

In the original video, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was speaking at the Ukraine Accountability Conference in The Hague, where he called for “an overarching strategy” to bring the perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine to justice.

The simple truth is that, as we speak, children, women and men, the young and the old, are living in terror.

Just in case you are wondering – the Ukraine Accountability Conference was held to coordinate efforts to create a coherent approach in ensuring accountability for war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Fact #3 : Viral Video Features A Fake “Satire” Voice-Over

The video is real, but the original audio was replaced by a fake “satire” voice-over. Karim Khan spoke English in the original video, so there was no need for a translator.

The fake video creator actually mentioned this in the video’s title, but intentionally made the extra long to reduce visibility of that disclaimer. The fake news creator also mentioned the use of a fake voice-over in the description:

BREAKING NEWS!! Arrest Warrant Issued For President Biden For Nord Stream (Satire Interpreter Voice)

How To Be A Hypocrite From AlienJacket Show How The Actions Of The West Divides The World Instead Of Bring It Together. Satire Interpreter Voice To Show What An Alternate Reality Would Look Like Or Prefer. Again, Satire Satire Satire!

This goes to show just how many people don’t bother to even read the title. Of course, when it comes to pro-Russia and pro-CCP netizens, who cares? If it is anti-America, it must be true.

Fact #4 : It Was Posted By A New “Parody” YouTube Account

The viral video was posted by a new YouTube account created on March 15, 2023. So far, this YouTube channel – AlienJacket, posted seven anti-Western videos – six of which are fake “parody” videos.

The only non-parody video is of Zambian politician Fred M’membe criticising the United States at China’s recent “democracy forum” – the the Second International Forum on Democracy.

Fact #5 : Unknown Who Destroyed Nord Stream 2 Pipelines

It is currently unknown who destroyed the Nord Stream 2 pipelines. As far as plausible reasons go, many countries had plausible reasons to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines:

US : To prevent allies in Europe from being held hostage by their reliance on cheap Russian gas.
UK : To encourage allies in Europe to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Russia : To stop supplying Europe without breaking its gas supply contracts, and/or to divide Europe.
Ukraine : To unite Europe against Russia.

While motive is important, it is not evidence that a country has committed the crime. There has to be actual evidence that the US / UK / Russia / Ukraine did it.

Regardless of what armchair experts may claim, there is simply no conclusive evidence YET that any of those countries are responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.

Fact #6 : This Is Pro-Russia Propaganda

This is really nothing more than yet another example of pro-Russia propaganda, like these examples:

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Jho Low Paid $20 Million For Photo With The Obamas!

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Jho Low paid a cool $20 million for a single photo with the Obamas, but guess how much he paid to influence the Trump Administration?!

Jho Low Paid $20 Million For Photo With The Obamas!

On Tuesday, 18 April 2023, Prakazrel “Pras” Michel – a member of the Fugees, together with Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, testified in his own defence against charges of criminal conspiracy, foreign lobbying and campaign finance crimes.

Pras Michel stands accused of conspiring with fugitive Malaysian financier, Jho Low, to influence the Obama and Trump administrations. During his trial in Washington, D.C., Pras Michel revealed how Jho Low hired him to be a “celebrity surrogate” in order to finagle that photo with the Obamas.

Michel described Jho Low as a “wealthy man willing to do anything, spend any type of money” to get his photo with President Barack Obama, but that Low’s reputation made him “too hot” get an invited to fundraising events. He himself witnessed Low’s wild lifestyle, which was filled with celebrities, models, night clubs, and free-flowing cash.

My understanding is that the campaign thought he was too hot. They didn’t want the optics at that time. At that point, Jho Low was a party guy – Vegas, champagne, parties with Paris Hilton. The campaign just didn’t want that.

Michel told Low that he would try to help him get that photo with the Obamas, but for a price.

I basically asked for US$1 million to begin to think about how I would get this photo. I was going to try.

Jho Low would end up paying Pras Michel $20 million over nine months, before the fugitive tycoon finally got his wish – a photograph with President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama, at the 2012 White House Christmas party!

The photo with the Obamas may have cost Jho Low $20 million, but prosecutors claim that Pras Michel pocketed $18 million of the money, and funnelled $2 million into Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Jho Low Paid $70 Million To Influence Trump Administration!

If you are shocked by how much Jho Low paid to get that single photo with Barack and Michelle Obama, you will be shocked by how much he paid to influence the Trump Administration!

Prosecutors alleged that Jho Low paid Michel, 50, another $70 million to lobby the Trump Administration to drop its civil and criminal investigation of Low in the 1MDB scandal, as well as have Miles Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire dissident, extradited to China!

Jho Low was indicted in 2021 together with Pras Michel by a federal grand jJury, but remains at large and is believed to be in China.

The indictment issued Thursday by a grand jury in Washington accuses Low and Michel of conspiring with Broidy, a woman named Nickie Lum Davis and others “to engage in undisclosed lobbying campaigns at the direction of Low and the Vice Minister of Public Security for the People’s Republic of China, respectively,” according to the Justice Department.

The goals of those campaigns were “both to have the 1MDB embezzlement investigation and forfeiture proceedings involving Low and others dropped and to have a Chinese dissident sent back to China.”

If convicted, Jho Low faces a maximum penalty of five to 10 years in prison, per count, while Pras Michel could face a range of maximum penalties from five to 20 years in prison, per count.

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Hari Raya 2023 : Lorry Ban + Court for Traffic Offences!

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JPJ just announced a lorry ban, and that seven major offences will be non-compoundable for the Hari Raya 2023 festive season!

Hari Raya 2023 : Traffic Offenders Will Be Sent To Court!

On Friday, 14 April 2023, the Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ) announced that seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable throughout the Hari Raya 2023 festive season.

Motorists who commit these seven offences from 18 to 27 April 2023 will no longer be allowed to just pay a fine, but will instead be referred to the courts.

Using mobile phones while driving
Running the red light
Driving on the emergency lane
Driving over the speed limit
Overtaking on double lines
Cutting queue
Not wearing a seat belt

Hari Raya 2023 : Lorries + Heavy Vehicles Banned!

JPJ also announced that lorries and other heavy vehicles will be banned from the roads during the Hari Raya 2023 festive season to reduce traffic congestion. The ban on heavy vehicles will last four days:

two days from April 20 to 21
two days from April 24 to 25

Category 1 : Banned From Road At All Times

Car carrier, tipper, dumper, tipping (over 7,500 kg), low loader, pole trailer, bulk cement tanker, platform trailer, timber lorry, wheeled heavy machinery and tractor
Lorry carrying cement, steel, stone, sand, soil, and other construction material, amang (tin dung), tin, coal and other minerals.

Category 2 : Allowed Only From Midnight To 8 AM

Container lorry carrying goods, except container lorry carrying goods from port / airport to industrial zones in the same state, and vice versa.
Lorry carrying electronics and electrical goods / industrial materials from port / airport to industrial zones in the same state, and vice versa.
Lorry carrying oil palm and rubber produce from plantation to industrial zone.
Cargo lorry without load.

Category 3 : Allowed Only From 6 PM To 8 AM
Limited to 25 km from construction site, subject to operating hours allowed on certain roads

Mobile crane, and cement mixer

Exceptions : Wheeled heavy machinery and mobile crane are allowed if they are required for emergency work.

All other vehicles not mentioned above, or carrying goods not mentioned in the schedule above, are allowed to travel at any time.

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Did UN call to decriminalise sex between adults + children?!

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Did a UN report call for the decriminalisation of sex between adults and children?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : UN Report Calls For Decriminalisation Of Sex Between Adults + Children

People are sharing an article which claims that a UN report just called for the decriminalisation of sex between adults and children!

Here is an excerpt from the long article, for your reference. Please skip to the next section for the facts!

UN report calls for decriminalization of all sexual activity, including between adults and children

A new report from the United Nations has called for all forms of drug use and sexual activity to be decriminalized globally.

Written by the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ), UNAIDS and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the report was released on International Women’s Day, with the goal of guiding “the application of international human rights law to criminal law.” Called the “8 March principles,” the report calls for offenses related to “sex, drug use, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, homelessness and poverty” to be decriminalized.

The United Nations experts say that criminalizing offenses related to these issues constitute an attack on human rights.

While on the surface, it may seem relatively uncontroversial, the report calls for sex between adults and minors to be decriminalized, so long as the minors “consent”:

Minors, of course, cannot truly consent to sex with an adult — something these so-called experts should know. The report also calls for all criminal laws relating to sex work to be abolished, which could easily serve to aid traffickers, pimps, and abusers. In turn, this serves the abortion industry as well, which has aided traffickers and abusers by failing to report suspected abuse and returning victims to their abusers after their abortions. Decriminalizing sex work, sex crimes against minors, and abortion would only serve to doubly suit traffickers and abusers, who are known to use abortion as a means to cover up their crimes.

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What UN Report Said On Between Adults + Children : Nothing

This is just another example of FAKE NEWS, here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Report Was Released In March 2023

The UN report in question was released on 8 March 2023 by UNAIDS. You can download a PDF copy to read for yourself.

The International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) along with UNAIDS and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) officially launched a new set of expert jurist legal principles to guide the application of international human rights law to criminal law.

The ‘8 March principles’ as they are called lay out a human rights-based approach to laws criminalising conduct in relation to sex, drug use, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, homelessness and poverty.

Ian Seiderman, Law and Policy Director at ICJ said, “Criminal law is among the harshest of tools at the disposal of the State to exert control over individuals…as such, it ought to be a measure of last resort however, globally, there has been a growing trend towards overcriminalization.”

“We must acknowledge that these laws not only violate human rights, but the fundamental principles of criminal law themselves,” he said.

Fact #2 : The Report Was Written By The ICJ

I should point out that the report was written by the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ), which is not part of the United Nations, and is a separate and independent body. So technically, it is not a UN report.

Composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world, the International Commission of Jurists promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems. Established in 1952 and active on five continents, the ICJ aims to ensure the progressive development and effective implementation of international human rights and international humanitarian law; secure the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights; safeguard the separation of powers; and guarantee the independence of the judiciary and legal profession.

© Copyright International Commission of Jurists
Published in March 2023

Fact #3 : Adolescence Is Defined As Ages 10-19

Before we get to the crux of the issue, it is important to note these definitions.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child broadly defines a child as an individual aged 0-18 years, but over time, the UN and the WHO formally defined adolescence as the ages of 10-19.

Fact #4 : Report Referred To Adolescent Sexual Activity

The ICJ / UN report in question referred to adolescent sexual activity, and not child sexual activity.

In the Foreword on Page 2 and the Introduction on Page 7, it was mentioned twice that the report referred to “consensual sexual activities, including in contexts such as sex outside marriage, same-sex sexual relations, adolescent sexual activity and sex work“.

This is repeated for the third time in Part III of the document, where it called for the decriminalisation of “consensual sexual activities, including in contexts such as sex outside marriage, same-sex sexual relations, adolescent sexual activity and sex work“.

Therefore, Principle 16 – Consensual Sexual Conduct, where the report called for the decriminalisation of consensual sexual conduct clearly refers to adolescents, and not children at large.

Fact #5 : Adolescents Are Having Sex

The decriminalisation of consensual sexual activity involving adolescents is critical, because the truth is – many adolescents are having sex.

In its 2013 study of young adolescent sexual activity, the Guttmacher Institute noted that by the time they turn 16, about ⅓ of adolescents have had sex, increasing to nearly half (48%) by 17 years of age, and 61% when they turn 18.

If minimum age of consent laws are not adjusted accordingly, these adolescents may be criminally penalised, throwing their lives and future into jeopardy.

Fact #6 : Age of Consent In Many States / Countries Is Less Than 18

It should be pointed out that most US states set the age of consent at 16, with Arizona, North Dakota, Oregon and Virginia setting theirs at 15. So adults in most US states are already legally allowed to have sex with children / adolescents, as per UN definition.

Similarly, many countries have age of consent lower than 18, which again, legally means that adults are already allowed to have sex with children / adolescents, as per UN definition.

In all those US states and countries, adolescents who are younger than 18 are already considered to be capable of consent, even though the UN still considers them as “children”.

This has nothing to do with the United Nations, but was decided by individual governments in different states and countries around the world.

Fact #7 : Report Mentioned Minimum Age of Consent

Principle 16 – Consensual Sexual Conduct did not call for the abolishment of any minimum age of consent, which is what those viral claims implied. Rather, it said that such criminal laws should not be biased in favour of any sex / gender, or age of consent to marriage.

In other words – what’s good for the gander is good for the goose too. The law should be applied equally – if the age of consent is set at 16 years, then it must apply to both males and females alike.

With respect to the enforcement of criminal law, any prescribed minimum age of consent to sex must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner. Enforcement may not be linked to the sex/gender of participants or age of consent to marriage.

Fact #8 : Report Never Mentioned Sex Between Adults + Children

Nowhere in the report is there any mention of sexual activity between adults and children. The report also did not call for the decriminalisation of sexual activity between adults and children.

The word “adults” is only mentioned three times in the report, all under a single section:

Principle 17 – Sex Work

The exchange of sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services and communication with another about, advertising an offer for, or sharing premises with another for the purpose of exchanging sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services, whether in a public or private place, may not be criminalized, absent coercion, force, abuse of authority or fraud.

Criminal law may not proscribe the conduct of third parties who, directly or indirectly, for receipt of a financial or material benefit, under fair conditions – without coercion, force, abuse of authority or fraud – facilitate, manage, organize, communicate with another, advertise, provide information about, provide or rent premises for the purpose of the exchange of sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services.

Fact #9 : Report Only States That Underage Sexual Conduct May Be Consensual

The report did not call for the decriminalisation of sexual activity between adults and children. It only pointed out that any sexual activity involving individuals under the legal age of consent may be consensual in fact, even if they are not consider consensual in law.

In that context, it calls for the enforcement of such minimum age of consent laws to take into account the possibility that adolescents may be matured enough to engage in consensual sexual conduct, and have a right to be heard.

Moreover, sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual in fact, if not in law.

In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions about engaging in consensual sexual conduct and their right to be heard in matters concerning them.

Pursuant to their evolving capacities and progressive autonomy, persons under 18 years of age should participate in decisions affecting them, with due regard to their age, maturity and best interests, and with specific attention to non-discrimination guarantees.

In other words – the report did not call for the abolishment of minimum age of consent, but asked that law enforcement take into account the opinions / testimonies of the adolescents in question, rather than just applying the law blindly.

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SBF Accused Of Bribing Chinese Officials With $40 Mil!

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SBF has just been accused of bribing Chinese officials with “at least $40 million” to unlock frozen trading accounts in China! Here is what you need to know…

SBF Accused Of Bribing Chinese Officials With $40 Million!

Sam Bankman-Fried, better known as SBF, has just been hit with fresh charges by US officials, who accuse the crypto-preneur of authorising a bribe of “at least $40 million” (about £32.5 million) to unlock frozen trading accounts in China!

In the updated indictment (PDF download), SBF was said to have approved the $40 million bribe after Chinese authorities froze Alameda Research trading accounts that were holding roughly $1 billion or £811 million worth of cryptocurrencies.

… in or about 2021, SAMUEL BANKMAN-FRIED, a/k/a “SBF”, the defendant, authorised and directed a bribe of at least $40 million to one or more Chinese government officials.

The purpose of the bribe was to influence and induce one or more Chinese government officials to unfreeze certain Alameda trading accounts containing over $1 billion in cryptocurrency, which had been frozen by Chinese authorities.

SBF now faces a total of 13 criminal charges, including this new additional charge. He could potentially be jailed for more than 100 years if convicted.

How SBF Allegedly Bribed Chinese Officials With $40 Million!

In early 2021, Chinese authorities froze some Alameda Research accounts on two of China’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, freezing approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency stored in those accounts.

At that time, SBF believed that the accounts were frozen as part of an ongoing investigation into another company that was trading with Alameda Research.

At least, SBF and others working for him tried “numerous methods” to unfreeze those accounts, including:

retaining lawyers in China to lobby for the Alameda accounts to be unlocked,
communicating with the Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges, and
opening new accounts on those Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges using several individuals unaffiliated with FTX (the “Fraudulent Accounts”) and then attempting to transfer cryptocurrency from the frozen accounts to those Fraudulent Accounts.

After months of failed attempts to unlock those frozen accounts, SBF and unnamed partners discussed and “ultimately agreed” to a multi million dollar bribe to unfreeze those accounts.

The indictment specifically called out SBF for authorising and directing the “illicit transfer of cryptocurrency” to “induce and influence one or more Chinese government officials to unfreeze the Accounts”.

Following SBF’s authorisation and instructions, Alameda Research employees transferred cryptocurrency worth about $40 million from the Alameda main trading account to a private cryptocurrency wallet in November 2021, after which the Accounts were unfrozen.

After confirming that the accounts were unfrozen, SBF then authorised the transfer of “additional tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to complete the bribe“.

Thanks to the unfreezing of its accounts, Alameda was able to continue funding its trades, and continue what the government says was a fraud upon its customers and investors for another year.

FTX and Alameda would later implode in November 2022, with SBF arrested in December and charged with defrauding FTX customers, investors and lenders, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions and defraud the Federal Election Commission.

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Is Hungary Prosecuting George Soros For Holocaust?!

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Is Hungary preparing to prosecute George Soros for Holocaust atrocities?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Hungary Prepares To Prosecute George Soros For Holocaust Atrocities!

People are sharing a NewsPunch article that claims that the Hungary is preparing to prosecute “lifelong Nazi” George Soros for Holocaust atrocities!

Here is an excerpt from the very long article, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Hungary Prepares To Prosecute ‘Lifelong Nazi’ George Soros For Holocaust Atrocities

Hungarian prosecutors are preparing charges against 92-year-old Hungarian-American financier George Soros for aiding and abetting the murder of thousands of Hungarians during the Nazi occupation during World War II.

Soros is set to be charged with “knowingly and willfully” aiding and abetting the murder of Jewish Hungarians in Budapest from September 1942 to January 1943, according to a source in the prosecutor’s office in Budapest, Hungary.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s administration have been seeking justice for historical crimes committed by Hungarian Nazi collaborators and Soros is understood to have been using his vast resources to “hide in plain sight” for decades.

Prime Minister Orban has been warning about Soros’ corrosive influence on society for decades. “Europe must not succumb to the Soros network,” wrote Orbán recently.

Soros was born to a Jewish family in Hungary in 1930, and survived the Holocaust by collaborating with the Nazis. He has expressed a total lack of remorse for his actions, telling 60 Minutes in 1988 that if he didn’t do it, somebody else would have anyway.

Soros was been missing since at least March 5, shortly after news leaked about the impending charges. He was expected to attend a conference on his recent work on African education however he did not arrive.

The prosecution considers Soros fit to stand trial despite his advanced age, the prosecutor’s office said, however the case will be on hold until he is arrested.

Soros founded the Open Society Foundation in 1993 to help promote far-left values and open borders around the world. Laura Silber, a spokesperson for the foundation, told USA TODAY that the claim Soros aided and abetted Nazis is “100% false.”

US-based fact checkers have regularly defended Soros from claims that he was a Nazi during his teenage years. However, these same fact checkers are funded in part or wholly by Soros and they have failed to identify this conflict of interest while reporting on Soros.

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Truth : Hungary Is Not Prosecuting George Soros For Holocaust Atrocities

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by NewsPunch, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : NewsPunch Is A Fake News Website

Like Real Raw News, NewPunch is a FAKE NEWS website that capitalises on making shocking but fake stories to generate page views and money.

It was founded as Your News Wire in 2014, before being rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news spread on Facebook that year.

Their articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch. Here are some of their fake stories that I personally debunked earlier:

Fact #2 : No Evidence Hungary Is Prosecuting George Soros For Any Crime

There is ZERO EVIDENCE that Hungarian prosecutors are preparing to prosecute George Soros for any crime.

NewsPunch certainly offered no evidence to back up its claims that Hungarian prosecutors are preparing to prosecute George Soros for Holocaust atrocities.

The Hungarian government and media certainly made no mention of any legal action against George Soros, an American citizen who lives in New York.

Fact #3 : George Soros Was A Jewish Child During World War 2

The claim that George Soros is a lifelong Nazi who collaborated with them in World War 2 is laughably false.

George Soros (born György Schwarz on August 13, 1930) was only 9 years old when World War 2 broke out in Europe. On top of that, he was a Jew!

To protect themselves from antisemitism, his family changed their name from the German-Jewish name of Schwartz to Soros, which meant “next in line” in Hungarian. His family only survived the war by purchasing documents that declared them as “Christians”.

As a Jewish child, George Soros had to pose as the Christian godson of a Hungarian government official. He would personally witness the confiscation of Jewish property, calling it a very personal experience of evil.

Fact #4 : Tivadar Soros Saved Other Hungarian Jews

It is also ridiculous to claim that George Soros collaborated with Nazis, when his father, Tivadar Soros, was notable for helping to save other Hungarian Jews.

When George Soros was 13 years old, the Jewish Council asked kids like him to hand out deportation notices. His father recognised the list for what it really was, and asked George to warn them.

The Jewish Council asked the little kids to hand out the deportation notices. I was told to go to the Jewish Council. And there I was given these small slips of paper … I took this piece of paper to my father. He instantly recognized it. This was a list of Hungarian Jewish lawyers. He said, ‘You deliver the slips of paper and tell the people that if they report they will be deported.’ I’m not sure to what extent he knew they were going to be gassed. I did what my father said.

George Soros would later call 1944 as “the happiest [year] of his life” because it gave him the opportunity to witness his father’s heroism.

Fact #5 : Nazi Germany Only Occupied Hungary In 1944

The claim that George Soros “knowingly and willfully” collaborated with Nazis, and aided and abetted the murder of Jewish Hungarians in Budapest from September 1942 to January 1943 is easily proven false.

Not only was he a child (as mentioned above), the Nazis only occupied Hungary in March 1944. So he could not possibly have aided the Nazis in killing Jews in Budapest 1-2 years earlier.

Fact #6 : George Soros Is Vehemently Anti-Nazi

It is ludicrous for people to claim that George Soros is a lifelong Nazi, when he is a Jewish survivor of Nazi occupation of Hungary in World War 2, who personally witnessed other Jews getting taken away to be killed.

Since then, he has been a supporter of progressive and liberal political causes, which he supports through his Open Society Foundations. He has personally influenced the Fall of Communism In Eastern Europe.

He has donated billions on philanthropy promoting democracy and good governance, which makes him unpopular amongst nationalists and populists, who often create and/or spread conspiracy theories about him, including labelling him as a Nazi, amongst other things.

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Is ICC launching Nuremberg 2 trials for COVID crimes?!

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Is the International Criminal Court (ICC) preparing to launch the Nuremberg 2 trials for COVID-19 crimes against humanity?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : ICC Launching Nuremberg 2 Trials For COVID-19 Crimes!

People are sharing a NewsPunch article that claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) preparing to launch the Nuremberg 2 trials for COVID-19 crimes against humanity!

Here is an excerpt from the very long article, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

VIP Elite Panic As Nuremberg 2.0 Trials for ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ Becomes Reality

Preparations are underway for crimes against humanity trials at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, according to an ICC insider who reveals that key figures from the globalist establishment are set to be sacrificed on the altar of public outrage for their crimes in the elite’s failed Covid plandemic.

The globalist elite have made the last three years hell for the majority but we have held strong, maintained our dignity, and exposed their lies, one by one. Now our abusers have been backed into a corner they are being forced to admit to the lies they’ve spun. And they want us to forgive and forget.

But that’s not going to happen. It really isn’t. The people are waking up. And since they are waking up and realizing the nightmare of the last three years was created intentionally by the globalist elite, the people are rising up and demanding justice.

This has led to an understanding on the part of the elite that they need to throw a few of their own under the bus in order to placate the masses. And while it will be gratifying to see key players from the Covid plandemic face justice on charges of crimes against humanity, it is worth keeping in mind that we have been here before when the Nazi leadership of the Third Reich were put on trial at Nuremberg.

In all, 199 defendants were tried, 161 were convicted, and 37 were sentenced to death for crimes against humanity and war crimes. But the death of these key players of the Third Reich did not mean the end of Nazism. It was simply a ruse for the elite to retain control. Ultimately the Nazis just rebranded and tried again under a new disguise.

Nazi scientists and doctors were exported to the United States and Europe was overrun by globalist organizations featuring children and grandchildren of the Nazi leadership. Schwab, Soros and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are just a few examples of globalist leaders with direct ties to the Nazi leadership that was supposedly eradicated at Nuremberg. And these globalist leaders are continuing their work in a new disguise.

Given the failures of Nuremberg, we have to learn from history and make sure this time the real criminals are held accountable for crimes against humanity. The evidence to convict is already out there. We have been methodically building our case against our abusers, building files of their slip-ups and admissions, ever since they became arrogant enough to think they could deprive us our our freedoms and subjugate the entire human race.

There is plenty of evidence to prove that major players knew exactly what they were doing all along. That includes Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, Klaus Schwab, and Big Pharma CEOs including Stephane Bancel of Moderna and Albert Bourla of Pfizer. There will be no “I was just following orders” defense for these characters at Nuremberg 2.0.

There is also plenty of evidence that politicians in every World Economic Forum-infiltrated country knew exactly what was going on too. And the evidence continues to emerge. This week in the UK, journalist Isabel Oakeshott passed more than 100,000 leaked Whatsapp messages to the Telegraph, revealing that senior government ministers discussed when to “deploy” the next variant to “frighten the pants off” the public.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s private messages reveal the British government “deployed the new variant” to intimidate people into getting the vaccine. Tell me how this is any different to the behavior of terrorists?

Make no mistake, the people are waking up. The Biden government paid influencers to shill for the vaccine during the Covid years as part of the elite’s brainwashing campaign, but those lies didn’t stand the test of time. Russell Brand appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast this week and they combined to red pill millions of people about the evils of Bill Gates, including truth bombs about his work in Africa.

Damning stuff that we at the People’s Voice have been reporting on for years. But Rogan and Brand weren’t finished with Gates yet. And remember, millions upon millions of people are watching this content. Gates’ evil works are slowly but surely being exposed to the whole world.

Gates is just one player in the game. Don’t forget about the CEOs of the Big Pharma cartel companies.

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel was caught admitting to his friends at the World Economic Forum that his company produced 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine doses in 2019 – before the pandemic started.

In the revealing footage from the World Economic Forum, Bancel also let slip that he had foreknowledge of a little something called the Covid pandemic. Make no mistake, this is proof, from the horse’s mouth, that Moderna and the Big Pharma cartel were complicit in planning the pandemic so they could push the global elite’s depopulation drug on the masses.

And you might remember that Dr Ugur Sahin, the CEO of BioNTech, the biotechnology company that worked with Pfizer to develop their Covid vaccine, admitted on camera that he did not get jabbed with a Covid vaccine.

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Truth : ICC Is Not Launching Nuremberg 2 Trials For COVID Crimes!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by NewsPunch, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : NewsPunch Is A Fake News Website

Like Real Raw News, NewPunch is a FAKE NEWS website that capitalises on making shocking but fake stories to generate page views and money.

Their articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch. Here are some of their fake stories that I personally debunked earlier:

Fact #2 : No Evidence Of ICC Preparing To Launch Nuremberg 2 Trials

There is ZERO EVIDENCE that the International Criminal Court is preparing to launch any Nuremberg-like trials for COVID-19 crimes against humanity, whatever that means.

NewsPunch certainly offered no evidence to back up its claims that the ICC is preparing to launch Nuremberg 2 trials for COVID-19 crimes.

The official ICC website also has no reference or mention of COVID-related crimes.

Fact #3 : ICC Tweet Does Not Exist

A quick check for the ICC tweet that figured so prominently in the NewsPunch graphics, show that the tweet does not exist.

Not only did the International Criminal Court not tweet that, no one else on Twitter did so. The tweet was completely fabricated, as far as we can tell.

Fact #4 : ICC Tweet Appears To Be Fabricated

A closer examination of the ICC tweet shows many suspicious aspects. For example:

the official International Criminal Court account has a grey tick, not a blue tick.
the fake ICC post lacks a date stamp
real ICC posts often include a link to an official ICC statement

Based on those indications, it is more likely than not that the ICC tweet was fabricated.

Twitter started implementing a grey tick for government, official, or multilateral organisations, on 20 December 2022. That means this “fake tweet” was created before that time.

Fact #5 : ICC Has No Jurisdiction Over Non-Member Countries

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organisation and tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands, and the only permanent international court with the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

However, the ICC only has jurisdiction in States (countries) that have signed and ratified the Rome Statute. Many major countries refuse to ratify the Rome Statute, and are therefore not under ICC jurisdiction.

The United States, Russia and Israel signed the Rome Statute, but have declared that they no longer intend to ratify it. China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, among other countries, completely refuse to sign the Rome Statute.

It would therefore be impossible for the ICC to prosecute citizens or residents of non-Member countries, which include many of those who conspiracy theorists claim would be charged in Nuremberg 2 trials, like Bill Gates, Dr. Anthony Fauci, George Soros, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.

Fact #6 : “New Variant” Message Happened Before Vaccines Were Readily Available

The claim that UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock messaged that the British government “deployed the new variant” to intimidate people into getting the COVID-19 vaccine is nonsense.

Even if the leaked WhatsApp message is genuine, Matt Hancock sent it on 13 December 2020 – just 5 days after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered in the UK.

At that time, Matt Hancock wanted to reveal the new (at that time) Kent variant of COVID-19 to “scare” people into complying with the lockdown. It had nothing to do with COVID-19 vaccines, which was in very short supply at that time.

The next day, he announced the Kent variant of COVID-19, and four days later, the UK government scraped its plans to relax COVID-19 measures for Christmas.

Fact #7 : Moderna Did Not Make COVID-19 Vaccine In 2019

The claim that Moderna made 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2019 – before the pandemic happened, was an (intentional?) misunderstanding of what CEO Stephane Bancel said at Davos 2023.

At that time, Bancel said that Moderna made 100,000 vaccine doses for the whole of 2019. However, it was the entire year’s production of vaccines for cancer, the Zika virus, a flu vaccine, and vaccines against other respiratory viruses.

China only announced its novel coronavirus outbreak on 31 December 2019, and only released the first draft of its genome on 11 January 2020. So it would not be possible for Moderna to develop any COVID-19 vaccine in 2019, much less manufacture 100,000 doses.

Fact #8 : Dr Ugur Sahin Received COVID-19 Vaccine In 2021

The claim that one of the inventors of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – Dr. Ugur Sahin, refused to receive his own mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 is utter nonsense that was debunked in 2021.

It was based on a 22 December 2020 interview by DW News that was edited to show Dr Ugur Sahin appear to admit that he did not take his own vaccine.

The truth is – the interview occurred before COVID-19 vaccines were rolled-out in Germany, and therefore, he would not be eligible to receive one.

Dr. Ugur Sahin was fully vaccinated by early 2021, and received his booster dose sometime in November 2021.

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Did Philippines Issue Arrest Warrant For Bill Gates?!

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Did a Philippines court issue an international arrest warrant for Bill Gates for premeditated murder?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Philippines Issued Arrest Warrant For Bill Gates!

People are sharing a NewsPunch article, which claims that a Philippines court issued an international arrest warrant for Bill Gates for premeditated murder!

It’s rather long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Bill Gates Arrest Warrant Issued in Philippines For ‘Premeditated Murder’ Linked To Vaccine Roll Out

A Philippines court has issued an international arrest warrant for Bill Gates, as part of an investigation into the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in the territory.

Excess deaths have spiked in the aftermath of the vaccination drive in the Philippines with hundreds of thousands of citizens dying unnecessarily and many more injured and maimed, according to prosecutors.

The judge said Gates, as the founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is “wanted in connection with hundreds of thousands of deaths, a number which cannot be estimated at present and is certain to increase exponentially in time.”

The Philippines had already banned Gates from entering the country in 2016, and has asked Interpol to relay the arrest warrant as a “red notice” to other police forces around the world, a request that has so far gone unmet.

The Heinous Crimes Court in Manila issued the order for the arrest of Gates under article 248 of the revised penal code (RPC), which carries a minimum prison term of 20 years and one day.

The news was immediately met with a superinjunction issued by the Gates Foundation which prevents media in relevant jurisdictions reporting on the arrest warrant or the existence of the superinjunction until the case is resolved.

The Philippines has a history of court action against international agencies pushing vaccines in the territory.

In 1995, the Philippines accused the UN agency UNICEF of waging a secret sterilization campaign in the territory. The state won a court order halting a UNICEF tetanus program that was using tetanus vaccine secretly laced with an abortion drug. Anti-hCG-laced vaccines had also been found in at least four other countries.

A Gates Foundation spokesperson declined to comment on the arrest warrant on Thursday, telling local radio: “This is a misunderstanding that we are going to have ironed out.

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Truth : Philippines Did NOT Issued Arrest Warrant For Bill Gates

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : NewsPunch Is A Fake News Website

Like Real Raw News, NewPunch is a FAKE NEWS website that capitalises on making shocking but fake stories to generate page views and money.

Their articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from NewsPunch. Here are some of their fake stories that I personally debunked earlier:

Fact #2 : Philippines Court Did Not Issue Arrest Warrant For Bill Gates

To be clear, there is no active arrest warrant for Bill Gates in the Philippines, or any other part of the world.

For one thing, no legitimate media outlet in the Philippines, or internationally, has reported such an arrest warrant. If an arrest warrant was issued for a billionaire and celebrity like Bill Gates, you can be sure it would have been reported far and wide.

A judge in the Philippines can issue an arrest warrant, but only if a public prosecutor files for one in an actual court case.

There are also no court cases involving Bill Gates, or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the Philippines. So how can any judge issue an arrest warrant?

Fact #3 : No Such Thing As International Arrest Warrant

There is no such thing as an international arrest warrant. Arrest warrants issued by courts in the Philippines are limited to that country.

In the event the person is overseas, the police may file an Interpol Red Notice. However, an Interpol Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.

Fact #4 : Bill Gates Was Not Involved In Philippines Vaccination Program

Bill Gates was never involved in the COVID-19 vaccination program in the Philippines, which was run by the government itself, under the Philippine National Vaccination Program and Implementation Plan.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was also not involved in the COVID-19 vaccination program in the Philippines. Even if the Foundation was involved in some kind of crime, it would have been charged in court, not Bill Gates himself.

Fact #5 : Murder Is Premeditated By Definition

It is odd for any court to issue an arrest warrant for premeditated murder, since murder is by definition, premeditated. Accidentally killing someone is called “manslaughter”

It would be like saying that you need a towel to wipe “wet water”, when a normal person would simply say “water”.

Fact #6 : Bill Gates Was Never Banned From Philippines

As far as I can ascertain, Bill Gates was never banned from entering the Philippines in 2016, or anytime in his life.

Fact #7 : Heinous Crimes Court Does Not Exist

There is no court in the Philippines, or anywhere else in the world, that is known as the Heinous Crimes Court.

Fact #8 : Organisations Cannot Issue Super-Injunctions

The claim that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued a super-injunction is ludicrous. Only a court can issue a super-injunction.

Even then, super-injunctions do not prevent the media from reporting on any court case. It only blocks the publication of WHY an injunction was obtained, and the reporting that an injunction was obtained.

Fact #9 : Bill Gates Was Only Arrested In 1977

Interestingly, Bill Gates was once arrested in 1977, for driving his Porsche far above the speed limit in New Mexico.

His mugshot went viral at that time, even though there was no social media back then. Quite a feat!

Fact #10 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Anti-vaccination activists have often claimed that those who received the vaccine would die. Yet, the opposite was true – the vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in protecting people from getting hospitalised or dying from COVID-19.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

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Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Roman Charity : Why Woman Breastfed Man In Prison!

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The painting of a young woman breastfeeding an old man in prison has gone viral.

Take a look at the viral claim and find out what the facts really are!

Viral Claim About Woman Breastfeeding Old Man In Prison

This photo of a classical painting is being shared on WhatsApp, social media platforms like Facebook, and even Reddit, together with this claim:

This painting of a young woman breastfeeding an old man in a prison cell was sold for 30 million Euros. The painting may look perverse but the story behind is from historical records.

The poor man was sentenced to “death by starvation” for stealing a loaf of bread during the reign of Louis XIV in France. The woman was his only daughter and the only visitor to his cell. She was allowed to visit him daily but was frisked thoroughly such that no food was taken in.

When after 4 months the man still survived with no weight loss, the authorities were perplexed and started spying on her in the cell and to their utter astonishment found her to breastfeed her father to the fullest sharing her baby’s milk. The judges then realizing the compassion and love of the woman for her father, pardoned the father and set him free.

This piece of history brings into focus how deep is a woman’s compassion in our daily lives that men often tend to overlook.

Roman Charity : Why Woman Breastfed Man In Prison!

As inspiring as the story is, this is yet another example of FAKE NEWS, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : That’s Roman Charity By Jules Joseph Lefebvre

The photo is of an oil painting on canvas called La Charité romaine (Roman Charity) by French painter, Jules Joseph Lefebvre.

Fact #2 : Roman Charity By Lefebvre Was Never Sold

The La Charité romaine (Roman Charity) painting by Jules Lefebvre was never sold for 30 million Euros.

It was purchased by the French government in 1864 for 1,500 francs, and displayed at the Melun Museum in 1865.

The French government later donated the painting to the Melun City Hall at 16 rue Paul-Doumer, where it can be seen in the wedding hall.

In the photo taken by Stephane Asseline in 2003, you can see the words Donné par l’état (Donated by the state) engraved into the frame.

Fact #3 : Roman Charity Is A Story Of Cimon And Pero

The real Roman Charity story is about Cimon who was convicted of a serious but unspecified crime, and sentenced to die of starvation.

Even though the prison guards were instructed not to provide him with water or food, Cimon surprisingly survived for more than a month. He was weak but not close to dying. The claim that he survived for more than FOUR months though is a tall tale.

One day, the guards reportedly discovered that his daughter Pero (some accounts describe her as his wife) had been breastfeeding her father. She had been allowed to visit her father once a day, and was able to feed him with her breast milk, keeping him alive that way.

What happened after that is not known. Some say that Pero’s love for her father convinced the court to pardon and release Cimon. But others claim that she was given a death penalty for what she did.

Fact #4 : There Are Many Roman Charity Paintings

There are actually many paintings showing a young woman breastfeeding an old man in prison, all variations of the Roman Charity story.

These four examples from Peter Paul Rubens (1612), Jan Janssens (1620-25), Dirck Van Baburen (1623) and Pieter van Mol (1640), all predate the Jules Lefebvre painting by over 200 years.

Arguably, the Jules Lefebvre painting of Roman Charity is more famous because it was the first depiction of Pero with a baby.

The original versions of the tale did not mention that she brought her baby to prison while visiting her father. So it isn’t surprising to see that earlier works only showed Pero and Cimon alone.

Fact #5 : Roman Charity Story Predates King Louis XIV

The story that the old man was sentenced to death by starvation for stealing bread during the reign of King Louis XIV is nonsense.

The story of Roman Charity goes way back to the days of Ancient Rome. It was first told in Factotum ac dictum memorabilium (Nine Books of Memorable Acts and Sayings of the Ancient Romans) by Ancient Roman historian Valerius Maximus.

A painting in the Temple of Pietas not only depicted the scene back then, wall paintings and terracotta statutes excavated in Pompeii suggest that it was common in the first century.

As I pointed out in the Fact #4 above, Western artists had already painted Roman Charity hundreds of years before Jules Lefebvre, or King Louis XIV’s reign from 1643 to 1715.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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SBF Flew Business As Judge Recuses From FTX Case!

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The FTX drama continues as SBF was seen flying business class, while Judge Ronnie Abrams recused herself from the case!

Judge Ronnie Abrams Recuses From SBF FTX Case!

The FTX drama continues with the shocking announcement by US District Judge Ronnie Abrams over a potential conflict of interest.

On Friday afternoon, December 23, Federal Judge Ronnie Abrams of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York recused herself from the FTX case.

The judge’s husband, Greg D. Andres, is a partner at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, which advised FTX in 2021. Though Andres himself did not personally advise FTX, Abrams chose to recuse herself from the case “to avoid any possible conflict, or the appearance of one.”

The order also stated that Davis Polk & Wardwell previously represented parties “that may be adverse to FTX and Defendant Bankman-Fried,” though Andres allegedly did not represent those clients either.

RONNIE ABRAMS, United States District Judge:

It has come to the Court’s attention that the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, at which my husband is a partner, advised FTX in 2021, as well as represented parties that may be adverse to FTX and Defendant Bankman-Fried in other proceedings (or potential proceedings). My husband has had no involvement in any of these representations. These matters are confidential and their substance is unknown to the Court. Nonetheless, to avoid any possible conflict, or the appearance of one, the Court hereby recuses itself from this action. See 28

U.S.C. § 455.

This decision came just one day after Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was released from custody pending trial on eight criminal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and violations of federal campaign finance laws.

It is unknown why Judge Ronnie Abrams chose to wait until now to recuse herself from the FTX case. But it should be pointed that it was a different judge – Gabrial Gorenstein, who approved the record-setting $250 million bond that did not require SBF to pay a single cent up front.

A new judge from the Southern District of New York will now have to be selected to oversee Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial.

SBF Free + Flying Business On “No Cash Up Front” FTX Case Bail!

In the meantime, the disgraced FTX co-founder was spotted “chilling” in the American Airlines Greenwich Business Class lounge located at Terminal 8 of the John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City.

Sam Bankman-Fried was accompanied by his parents, FBI agents and lawyers. He had full access to what looks like an Acer Predator gaming laptop, and a smartphone. When he was asked for a photo, SBF replied, “Haha maybe not today“.

You may recall that, on December 9, SBF claimed that he did not have access to (much of) his professional or personal data, despite having obvious access to a laptop and a mobile phone.

1) I still do not have access to much of my data — professional or personal. So there is a limit to what I will be able to say, and I won’t be as helpful as I’d like. But as the committee still thinks it would be useful, I am willing to testify on the 13th.

SBF was later spotted in the Business class section of an American Airlines flight, “disguised with a beanie”. He appeared to be engaged in conversation with a suited executive.

The suited executive could be his lawyer, Mark Cohen, who may have been accompanying the disgraced FTX co-founder to his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, where he has to serve his house arrest while awaiting trial.

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SBF Released On “No Cash” $250 Million Bail Bond!

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Sam Bankman-Fried, better known as SBF, has been released on a “no cash up front” $250 million bail bond!

SBF Released On “No Cash Up Front” $250 Million Bail Bond!

FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, better known as SBF, has been released on a $250 million bond, but guess what – it does not actually require him to come up with the cash.

Instead, the release agreement showed that SBF was being released on a $250 million personal recognisance bond that was secured by his parents’ five-bedroom home in Palo Alto.

If SBF fails to appear in court, or violate other conditions of his bail, then the property would be seized. That property is estimated to be worth only $4 million.

In addition to his two parents, the bond must be signed by two other people (one of whom cannot be a relative) by January 5, 2023; and they would all be on hook for the $250 million bail.

This “no cash up front” bail deal was worked out between SBF’s legal team and US prosecutors, which included his agreement to be extradited to the United States.

New York federal court Judge Gabriel Gorenstein released him, subject to detention at his parents’ home while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, with mandatory mental health counselling and substance abuse treatment.

SBF had to surrender his passport under the bail agreement, and was stricter to travel to the Northern District of California, or the Southern and Eastern districts of New York for court appearances.

This was a fraud of epic proportions. If that was the only test, detention would likely be appropriate. But he voluntarily consented to extradition. That should be given weight.

If he had resisted, we would have opposed release. But his assets have diminished. This is a financial crime and he no longer works for FTX or Alameda. So the risk to the community is a marginal consideration. We propose a restrictive bail package.

– Assistant US Attorney Nick Roos

Sam Bankman-Fried faces up to 115 years in prison if convicted on all eight counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, money laundering, and violating campaign finance laws in his cryptocurrency exchange company, FTX.

His next hearing is set for January 3, 2022, and his defence is expected to be complicated by the fact that two of his chief lieutenants – Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang pleaded guilty and are now cooperating with investigations.

But until that he is convicted, SBF will be free to enjoy life at home, catching up on Netflix or the computer games he loves to play. Living with his parents may not be what every 30+ young man likes, but it sure beats jail in the Bahamas!

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Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang Plead Guilty To FTX Fraud!

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Both Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang just pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange!

Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang Plead Guilty To FTX Fraud!

Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang – two close partners of Sam Bankman-Fried, plead guilty to criminal charges related to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange. They are now helping investigators with their investigations, in exchange for reduced sentencing.

The charges, guilty pleas and their cooperation with investigators occurred earlier, but was kept quiet until Sam Bankman-Fried (better know as SBF) was safely on a flight to the US from the Bahamas after he agreed to voluntary extradition.

SBF landed in New York at 10 PM local time on December 21, and Southern District of New York attorney Damian Williams announced that Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang pleaded guilty to charges “related to their roles in the fraud that contributed to FTX’s collapse”.

As I said last week, this investigation is ongoing and moving very quickly. I also said last week’s announcement would not be our last and let me be clear once again, neither is today’s.

I’m announcing that SDNY has filed charges against Caroline Ellison […] and Gary Wang […] in connection with their roles in the frauds that contributed to FTX’s collapse. Both Ms. Ellison and Mr. Wang have plead guilty to those charges and both are cooperating with the SDNY.

Caroline Ellison was the head of Alameda Research – the trading firm started by SBF, which allegedly had “a virtually unlimited line of credit” funded by FTX customers. A former Google employee and MIT graduate, Gary Wang co-founded FTX with Sam Bankman-Fried.

Ellison plead guilty to seven charges, which could result in up to 110 years of jail time. Gary Wang plead guilty to four charges. However, more charges could follow if investigators find evidence of other crimes.

Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang Also Faces SEC Charges

These criminal charges were paired with civil charges by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accused Ellison, Wang and Sam Bankman-Fried of securities violations related to FTX’s cryptocurrency, FTT.

The SEC also noted that both Ellison and Wang are cooperating with its ongoing investigations.

Washington D.C., Dec. 21, 2022 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, and Zixiao (Gary) Wang, the former Chief Technology Officer of FTX Trading Ltd. (FTX), for their roles in a multiyear scheme to defraud equity investors in FTX, the crypto trading platform co-founded by Samuel Bankman-Fried and Wang. Investigations into other securities law violations and into other entities and persons relating to the alleged misconduct are ongoing.

According to the SEC’s complaint, between 2019 and 2022, Ellison, at the direction of Bankman-Fried, furthered the scheme by manipulating the price of FTT, an FTX-issued exchange crypto security token, by purchasing large quantities on the open market to prop up its price. FTT served as collateral for undisclosed loans by FTX of its customers’ assets to Alameda, a crypto hedge fund owned by Wang and Bankman-Fried and run by Ellison. The complaint alleges that, by manipulating the price of FTT, Bankman-Fried and Ellison caused the valuation of Alameda’s FTT holdings to be inflated, which in turn caused the value of collateral on Alameda’s balance sheet to be overstated, and misled investors about FTX’s risk exposure.

In addition, the complaint alleges that, from at least May 2019 until November 2022, Bankman-Fried raised billions of dollars from investors by falsely touting FTX as a safe crypto asset trading platform with sophisticated risk mitigation measures to protect customer assets and by telling investors that Alameda was just another customer with no special privileges; meanwhile, Bankman-Fried and Wang improperly diverted FTX customer assets to Alameda. The complaint alleges that Ellison and Wang knew or should have known that such statements were false and misleading.

The complaint also alleges that Ellison and Wang were active participants in the scheme to deceive FTX’s investors and engaged in conduct that was critical to its success. The complaint alleges that Wang created FTX’s software code that allowed Alameda to divert FTX customer funds, and Ellison used misappropriated FTX customer funds for Alameda’s trading activity. The complaint further alleges that, even as it became clear that Alameda and FTX could not make customers whole, Bankman-Fried, with the knowledge of Ellison and Wang, directed hundreds of millions of dollars more in FTX customer funds to Alameda.

The SEC is calling for a civil penalty, and a ban for Ellison and Wang to ever serve as a company director or officer, as well as “disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains”, and an injunction against future securities violations and limiting them to only buy and sell securities for their own accounts.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Fact Check : Parting Words of Judge Augustine Paul?

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Take a look at the parting words of Judge Augustine Paul – the man who convicted Anwar Ibrahim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : These Are The Parting Words Of Judge Augustine Paul

After Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, people started sharing these “parting words of Judge Augustine Paul – the man who convicted Anwar Ibrahim“.

It’s really long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts…

The parting words of Augustine Paul, the judge who convicted Anwar

A very good and MUST READ article by former Judge Augustine Paul who was known for handing down the guilty verdict on Anwar’s sodomy case. Now you can read his regrets and confession over the case as he pointed the fingers at, who else – MM himself! _Yes I respected him at one time but I look upon him with pity. It is the year 2010, Augustine Paul is a broken old man living alone. Close to death, he spends much time mulling over the past.

One more day nearly over. I sit in my usual spot on the verandah, gazing over the weedy patch of garden and into the trees where the noisy sparrows come home to roost. There are great flocks of them, chattering nineteen to the dozen, happily playing tag before bedtime. Do they ever notice me sitting here, so still, so alone, always envious of their querulous companionship? Twilight, the saddest, bleakest part of the day, with the light bleeding rapidly away; twilight brings back memories and regrets. Oh, where is everyone? My wife, dead for many years, taken away by cruel cancer; my children dying one by one before their time as though the sins of the father must be visited upon his offspring in accidents and disease and murder, all except one, the estranged one who is living far away across the seas. I write him letters nearly every day: “Son, I am only an old man. How can you not forgive me after twenty years? Son, you must understand, I was only an obedient slave to the powers that were. They used me like an appliance in the trial that shook the nation.” Letters that I write and then tear up because we have been through this so many times before. Yet, each time I hold the pen in my hand, I think I can write an explanation so striking, so convincing as to deliver him the lightning flash of insight. But I know I cannot. So I sit and watch the sparrows fly.

Strange that I can barely remember last week, but the events of twenty years ago have sharpened to the polish of knives. That packed courtroom, the public gallery all eye and ears, the reporters, the gesticulating lawyer, the scared witness in the box with his downcast eyes and low voice because we all knew that he was lying, and Anwar himself, so calm, so collected as though he was already past caring. I think of him and the light of my memory is as glaring as the noonday sun, not so much memory as shards of glass to pierce the innards of my soul. At the market, I ran into Ramasamy a few days ago. He is the only one who will not turn his eyes away from mine. He was kind enough to take me to a coffee-shop where we chatted the afternoon away as old men are wont to. We talked of the most mundane matters but, just before we parted, he made a most curious remark. He said: “Augustine, whatever they say, I will always believe that you made the right decision about Anwar.” I
shook his hand but said nothing. Oh, What could I have said?

Ramasamy, you can’t not have known. Of course it was a travesty of justice. The whole purpose of that show trial was to convince the nation of Anwar’s imaginary crimes. Ramasamy, you were only being kind. The prosecution dragged in the most ugly evidences, but their witnesses were discredited one by one despite the fact that I gave the defence so little room until, finally, there was no case at all. Even the man in the street could tell, but I was the all powerful judge; I did not throw it out. I still pronounced him guilty on eight of the ten charges. That was what Mahathir wanted. It was necessary to let him off on a couple so the world would think it an independent judicial decision. But I was never free to act on my own. And then I sentenced him to twenty years. It was also what Mahathir wanted. Oh, what else could I have done? That cruel man, that dictator: he was always invisibly there all the time, pulling my strings. He stopped at nothing to satisfy his cruelty. It was nothing to him to use all the apparatus of government to achieve his end, nothing to him to sacrifice innocent lives like Anwar, Sukma, Munawar and Datuk Nalla.

And, after Anwar’s conviction, with the nation torn apart in the most horrible manner, I began to have my doubts. But in those days, I could sweep them all aside; I was part and parcel of the corruption in the judiciary, the government, the ruling party, and I shared in the tainted rewards. I was decorated with titles and promoted to the Bench of the Federal Court. Rumours were circulating of my nomination for the ultimate prize – the post of Chief Justice – when the broom came. Like many, I chose to resign rather than face removal.

I sometimes dream that I acted very differently from the expectations of the powers that were. I dreamt that I acquitted Anwar of all charges in one blazing moment of truth and justice: the jubilation in the streets, the worldwide applause, the consternation of the government who had thought it could not lose. And Mahathir would have found some airy-fairy charge to throw me into prison and possible torture, but I would have become a hero. Mahathir would have fallen quickly after, and the nation would have escaped great distress. But these are only thin, insubstantial dreams. It’s easy to be brave in hindsight but you cannot turn back time and tide. Now, for me, there is only the blackness and the sleepless nights. What happens after death? An old man at death’s door thinks too much of these things: God’s justice, lost souls, eternal torment in lakes of burning fire. I pray
every day and the Reverend Peters visits me once a week to assure me of God’s forgiveness. But can I ever forgive myself?

It’s all dark now, the sparrows are quiet but the mosquitoes are biting. I must go inside, turn on every lamp to dispel the shadows – I have become like a child once more, afraid of the dark, but a child without a mother – and perhaps try once more to write that letter. I hope God will take me tonight in a small, quiet hour of sleep but, if not, I’ll be here again tomorrow to watch the sparrows fly.

AUGUSTINE PAUL PASSED AWAY IN 2010 AT THE AGE OF 66.

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Truth : These Are NOT The Parting Words Of Judge Augustine Paul

That is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Note : The fact check credit goes to ManaSiaTauSiaMabuk.

Fact #1 : Augustine Paul Convicted Anwar Ibrahim In April 1999

First, let me just offer a quick refresher on Judge Augustine Paul, and his relevance to Anwar Ibrahim.

Augustine Paul was confirmed as a High Court judge less than six months before he presided over Anwar Ibrahim’s corruption case in November 1998.

After a 78-day trial, Judge Augustine Paul convicted Anwar Ibrahim on corruption charges, and sentenced him to six years in prison on 14 April 1999.

Note the 14 April 1999 date. This will be important in dismissing this article as fake later.

Fact #2 : Augustine Paul Died In 2010

Judge Augustine Paul would later die on 2 January 2010, after battling pancreatic cancer. This will be an important point, as you will see later.

Fact #3 : Augustine Paul Had A Wife + Two Children

Augustine Paul was not alone when he died. He was bedridden due to his illness, but was survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Paul, and his two grown-up children – Dr. Juliana Sharmini and Alan John, who were 29 years old and 27 years old in 2010.

Fact #4 : The Footnote Was Removed

The “parting words by Judge Augustine Paul” was originally shared with a disclaimer, stating:

Disclaimer: Extracted from soc.culture.malaysia; by: apaul@mahathir.show.trial

But in later versions, someone decided to remove the disclaimer, probably to make it appear genuine.

Fact #5 : It Appears To Be Written As “Fan Fiction”

The original source of the “parting words of Judge Augustine Paul” is this article called “I Watch The Sparrows Fly“, allegedly penned by the justice himself.

However, the letter itself was prefaced by this statement:

It is the year 2018 and Augustine Paul is a broken old man living alone. Close to death, he spends much time mulling over the past.

The “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” article was also published on 20 December 1998, at 4 PM to be precise.

That was almost four months before Judge Augustine Paul sentenced Anwar Ibrahim to six years in jail.

Even if you believe that the date of the original posting was fabricated, Judge Augustine Paul died in 2010 – 8 years before he allegedly penned “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” in 2018.

The only reasonable conclusion we can draw is that “I Watch The Sparrows Fly” was penned by an anonymous writer as a kind of “fan fiction”, which has no basis in fact.

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Chinese Spies Caught Interfering With HUAWEI Case!

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Two Chinese spies were caught interfering with US federal prosecution of Chinese telecommunications company, HUAWEI!

Chinese Spies Caught Interfering With HUAWEI Case!

On Monday, October 24, 2022, the US Justice Department announced charges against two Chinese citizens, who were accused of working to undermine federal prosecution of Chinese telecommunications company, HUAWEI.

The charging documents charged two People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizens of two counts of money laundering, and one count of obstructing an official proceeding, specifically interfering with the pending prosecution of HUAWEI by the Eastern District of New York (EDNY).

Gouchun He, who is also known as Dong He or Jacky He, and
Zheng Wang, who is also known as Zen Wang

The US Justice Department called them intelligence officers of the PRC conducting foreign intelligence operations targeting the United States, on behalf of the PRC government and for the benefit of Company-1 (HUAWEI).

How These Chinese Spies Were Caught Interfering With HUAWEI Case!

The US Justice Department’s charging documents tell a really compelling story of how the two Chinese spies were foiled by the very asset they recruited.

When US Department of Justice apparently began their investigation of HUAWEI in 2017, Gouchun He and Zheng Wang recruited a US law enforcement official around February 2017. Unbeknownst to them, the official they recruited as their asset became a “double agent” for FBI supervision.

He and Wang began asking the official for sensitive information about the US government’s criminal case against HUAWEI, and received payment in return:

approximately $14,000 in cash
jewellery worth approximately $600
approximately $61,000 in Bitcoin

The official also received payments unrelated to this case (suggesting He and Wang asked for information on other cases) :

$2,000 via Western Union
$3,000 in cash delivered in person by He and Wang
$9,000 in cash and jewellery

After charges were announced against HUAWEI around January 2019, Gouchun He and Zheng Wang repeatedly asked their agent for secret information regarding the investigation and prosecution of HUAWEI:

September 2021 : The official was asked to provide information on meetings with the prosecution team at the US Attorney’s Office for EDNY on strategising for the jury trial.

October 2021 : In response to a request for documents, the official passed Gouchun He a document marked SECRET that purportedly claimed to discuss a potential plan to charge and arrest two HUAWEI principals residing in China.

The official was paid $41,000 in Bitcoin for that single page, and later paid another $20,000 in Bitcoin the same month.

December 2021 : Gouchun He told the official that HUAWEI “demanded to communicate with him/her directly”, but he allegedly “refused it” because “it’s too dangerous”.

The US official repeatedly indicated that he/she knew and expected the materials he/she passed would be shared with HUAWEI, and Gouchun He and Zheng Wang never denied that they would be sharing the documents or information with HUAWEI.

In fact, when the US official handed them the SECRET document, Gouchun He explained, “HUAWEI didn’t give me specifically feedback now yet [about the document], but they are obviously interested in it, and my boos and they need further information”

Both Gouchun He and Zheng Wang then asked the US official for information on witnesses who were working with the US government to prosecute HUAWEI.

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Was Xi Jinping Arrested In Sudden Military Coup?!

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Was Chinese President Xi Jinping just arrested and overthrown by a sudden military coup in China?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Xi Jinping Was Just Arrested In Sudden Military Coup!

The Internet is abuzz with claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping was just arrested and overthrown by a sudden military coup in China.

A video showing a long line of military vehicles went viral, and some websites posted articles like “Chinese President Xi Jinping arrested, what is happening in China?”

Xi Jinping has been removed from the post of Chairman of the Chinese Military Commission. After the conclusion of the SCO conference in Uzbekistan, Jin Jinping, who returned to China, was arrested by the country’s army and kept under house arrest.

Military special forces have gathered at Shenyang Military Airport on the orders of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Li Qiaoming. Not only this, a video recording has also been released that the military vehicles of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army started invading Beijing from September 22.

These military vehicles are lined up for about 80 kilometers from Huanlai to Zhangjiakou near Beijing. The root cause of all this is the removal of Xi Jinping from the leadership of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army by senior and top officials of the Chinese Communist Party.

Even former Indian cabinet minister and BJP leader, Subramaniam Swamy, jumped on the bandwagon, posting:

New rumour to be checked out: Is Xi jingping under house arrest in Beijing ? When Xi was in Samarkand recently, the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party were supposed to have removed Xi from the Party’s in-charge of Army. Then House arrest followed. So goes the rumour.

Truth : Xi Jinping Was Not Arrested In Any Military Coup!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS that started as a rumour, but was used to generate page views for rumour / fake news websites. Here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Started As A Rumour

It started when China Democracy Party Chairman Wanjun Xie 谢万军 posted a video showing a very long convoy of PLA military vehicles heading to Beijing, with this message:

9月22日，中共解放军大部队开往北京。军队的车头在北京怀来，车尾在河北省张家口，行军队伍长达80公里。

On September 22, a large troop of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army left for Beijing. The front of the army was in Huailai, Beijing, and the rear was in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. The marching team was 80 kilometers long.

Then Chinese human rights activist, Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 posted the same video, but this time, mentioning the rumour that Xi Jinping was under arrest.

#PLA military vehicles heading to #Beijing on Sep 22. Starting from Huanlai County near Beijing & ending in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, entire procession as long as 80 KM. Meanwhile, rumor has it that #XiJinping was under arrest after #CCP seniors removed him as head of PLA

The video, however, does not actually show that the military convoy stretched out for 80 km.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Xi-Jinping-arrested-video-claim.mp4?_=3

Fact #2 : Jennifer Zeng Admitted Rumour Was Not True

Jennifer Zeng admitted a few hours later that the rumour that Xi Jinping was arrested was not true.

Someone told me that he knows the family of a #CCP admiral, the rumor about Xi’s arrest is not true.

Unfortunately, the rumour had already gone viral by then, and rumour / fake news websites capitalised on it to generate page views for the ad money.

It didn’t help that there were earlier reports of flights in and out of Beijing being cancelled…

Fact #3 : Xi Jinping Issued Two Statements The Next Day

While no photos of Xi Jinping were taken on 23 September 2022, he issued two letters on that day – a day after he was supposedly deposed and imprisoned.

While not direct evidence that Xi Jinping is not under some kind of house arrest, both statements still referred to him as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

Xi Jinping is likely still in quarantine, after returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan less than a week ago.

Fact #4 : Sun Lijun Was Sentenced To Death The Next Day

If Xi Jinping was really arrested and overthrown on Thursday, 22 September 2022, the sentencing of Sun Lijun the next day would have at least been postponed, if not cancelled.

On Friday, 23 September 2022, Sun Lijun was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, that would eventually be commuted to life imprisonment with no possibility of commutation or parole.

Officially, the former Vice Minister of Public Security was found guilty of taking more than 646 million yuan (US$90.6 million) of bribes, manipulating the stock market, and illegally possessing two firearms.

Unofficially, Sun was part of a “political clique” that challenged Xi Jinping’s authority. Xinhua reported that “Sun failed to stay true to the Party’s ideals and faith, displayed “extremely inflated political ambition and very poor political integrity,” issued groundless criticisms of the Party’s policies, and spread political rumours“.

Several members of this political clique, like former Justice Minister Fu Zhenghua and three former police chiefs of Shanghai, Chongqing and Shanxi provinces, also received long jail sentences.

Fact #5 : No Evidence Of Military Coup / Arrest

As much as many people would like to see Xi Jinping experience the pleasures of the Chinese prison system, there is simply NO EVIDENCE of any military coup, or Xi Jinping getting arrested.

If Xi Jinping was arrested in a military coup, the first thing the plotters would have done is publicly reveal that they not only toppled him, they have him in custody.

They would also seize control of major government institutions and the media, to secure power and ensure that Xi loyalists cannot regain power. Martial law would have been declared, with a complete lockdown of Beijing, and the military barricading government buildings.

These are all “noisy” actions that would be clearly visible, not only to the Chinese public but the entire world as well, especially in a time of smartphones and social media.

Yet, there was no mention of anything remotely close to an arrest or a coup of any kind, in any mainstream media or social media, either inside or outside of China.

It may be possible to keep a lid on such a major event in North Korea – the hermit kingdom, but not in China. Not even with the Great Firewall (防火长城).

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Did Kelantan Palace Ban Malaysia Chief Justice + Husband?!

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Did the Kelantan palace ban Malaysia Chief Justice Tengku Maimun and her husband after she ruled to uphold the guilty verdict on former Prime Minister Najib Razak?

Find out what’s going on, and what the facts really are!

Claim : Kelantan Palace Banned Malaysia Chief Justice + Her Husband!

An online portal went viral after claiming that Malaysia Chief Justice Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat and her husband are both banned from the Kelantan Palace, after she (and four other justices) ruled to uphold the guilty verdict on former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The online portal also said that even though Chief Justice Tengku Maimun hailed from Kelantan, the Sultan of Kelantan Muhammad V refuses to meet with her or her husband, insinuating that he is displeased with her verdict.

That online portal also claimed that two other persons were similarly blacklisted from the Kelantan Palace, including a politician who is now a government minister.

Truth : Kelantan Palace Did Not Ban Malaysia Chief Justice + Her Husband!

This appears to be FAKE NEWS created by that online portal to increase page views by generating controversy, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : There Is No Such Ban, Officially

We do not know how the Sultan of Kelantan feels about former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s guilty verdict being upheld (again).

However, the Kelantan Palace has never announced such a ban, so officially, there is no such ban.

Fact #2 : Kelantan Palace Refuted The Claim As False

On 26 August 2022, the Kelantan Royal Household Comptroller, Datuk Nik Mohd Shafriman Nik Hassan issued an official statement refuting the claim as false.

Here is their official statement in Bahasa Melayu, and our translation in English :

26 Ogos 2022 – Istana Kelantan dengan tegas menyangkal dakwaan sebuah portal yang mengatakan bahawa Ketua Hakim Negara, Yang Amat Arif Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat dan suami dilarang ke Istana Kelantan. Kenyataan ini adalah sama sekali tidak benar dan tidak berasas. Tidak pernah ada larangan seperti yang didakwa dikeluarkan oleh Istana Kelantan.

Istana Kelantan memandang serius tohmahan berupa fitnah seperti ini dan menyarankan agar pengamal media merujuk kepada Istana terlebih dahulu mengenai kesahihan apa-apa berita sebelum disiarkan bag mengelak dari mengelirukan masyarakat.

Pihak Istana aka mempertimbangkan untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap portal berkenaan sekiranya fitnah tidak berasas ini berlarutan.

26 August 2022 – The Kelantan Palace firmly refutes the claim of a portal that claimed that the Chief Justice, The Most Learned Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat and her husband are banned from the Kelantan Palace. This statement is completely untrue and baseless. No such ban as allegedly has been issued by the Kelantan Palace.

The Kelantan Palace takes this kind of slanderous accusation seriously and urges media practitioners to refer to the Palace beforehand on the veracity of any news before publishing to avoid causing public confusion.

The Palace will consider taking legal action against the portal if this baseless slander continues.

Fact #3 : Entry To Kelantan Palace By Invitation Only

The Kelantan Palace is both a royal institution and a private residence, not a public venue. Therefore, there is really no need to institute a ban.

Technically, everyone is “banned” from entering the Kelantan Palace, except for those who are invited in, or allowed to enter on official business.

Even though Chief Justice Tengku Maimun is from Kelantan, she has no reason to go to the Kelantan Palace unless she receives an invitation by the Sultan of Kelantan.

Just like how you only invite people you want to your own home, the Kelantan Palace does not need to ban anyone. It only needs to invite people it wants.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Fake News To Drive Traffic

This is yet another example of fake news created by online blogs and portals to drive traffic and increase page views for ad money.

Here are examples of other “viral” fake news that we debunked earlier:

Please be wary when you read viral celebrity news like this. Be sure to check if they are real before sharing!

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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XPeng Engineer Guilty Of Stealing Apple Car Secrets!

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An XPeng engineer just pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from the Apple Project Titan self-driving car program!

Here is what we know so far…

XPeng Engineer Guilty Of Stealing Apple Car Secrets!

A former Apple engineer who joined Xpeng – the Chinese electric vehicle maker, just pleaded guilty to the criminal charge of stealing trade secrets from the Apple self-driving car program!

Zhang Xiaolang initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he reached a plea deal with prosecutors and changed his plea to guilty, according to court documents released on Monday, August 22, 2022.

The plea deal is sealed, so the details are unknown. Zhang’s attorney, Daniel Olmos, confirmed the plea agreement but declined to comment on the details. Sentencing however is set for November 2022.

Zhang faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. With this plea deal, he should serve a much shorter sentence.

In addition to Zhang, US federal prosecutors also charged Chen Jizhong with stealing secrets from the Apple self-driving car program. Chen, however, continues to plead not guilty, and will have his day in court on August 29, 2022.

Chen is also represented by the same lawyer as Zhang – Daniel Olmos.

How XPeng Engineer Stole Apple Car Secrets!

Zhang Xiaolang worked on the Apple Project Titan autonomous vehicle program as a hardware engineer between 2015 and 2018, during which he designed and tested circuit boards.

He travelled to China during his paternity leave in 2018, and on returning in April 2018, he told his boss at Apple that he was leaving to work for XPeng (Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology) in China.

XPeng, also known as XMotors in the United States, is a Chinese electric car startup backed by Alibaba, Foxconn and IDG Capital. It has developed electric cars like the XPeng G3 and XPeng P5.

His boss felt that Zhang was “being evasive” during the meeting. There was also increased network activity and visits to his office, before he resigned. All that led to an internal Apple investigation of his two company-issued phones and laptop.

That’s when they discovered that Zhang had been downloading confidential files from the Apple lab during his time away. He was also caught on CCTV removing circuit boards and a Linux server from their lab.

Zhang’s network activity was found to consist of “both bulk searches and targeted downloading copious pages of information from the various confidential database applications“.

Zhang was arrested at the San Jose airport in July 7, 2018, before he could board a last-minute, one-way flight to China aboard Hainan Airlines.

In an interview with Apple’s security team, Zhang admitted that he downloaded the data online, and removed hardware from its labs. He also admitted to the FBI that he stored the files he downloaded on his wife’s laptop.

The FBI described the data he stoled as “largely technical in nature, including engineering schematics, technical reference manuals, and technical reports“.

The files – about 24 GB worth – include a 25-page document containing engineering schematics of a circuit board, as well as technical manuals and PDFs related to the Apple self-driving car prototype.

The other Apple engineer to be charged with stealing secrets of its autonomous car project – Chen Jizhong – was accused of stealing stolen thousands of sensitive documents, as well as 100 photos taken inside its self-driving facility – all discovered in a hard disk drive he owned.

Chen was also arrested when he attempted to board a flight to China, ostensibly to visit his ill father.

XPeng Denies Involvement In Theft Of Apple Car Secrets!

XPeng said in a Weibo post that it was aware of the plea agreement from media reports, but it was “not clear about the details, nor involved in further investigation conducted by US law enforcement“.

It has been more than four years into the case, and we are not aware of the specifics of the case and have not been involved in the follow-up investigation of the case by the US judiciary.

We also have no relevant dispute with Apple and have no connection with the case. We strictly abide by relevant laws and attaches great importance to intellectual property protection.

Zhang joined XMotors in May 2018, but the company quickly distanced itself from its employee, stating on July 11, 2021 :

There is no indication that he has ever communicated any sensitive information from Apple to XMotors.

XMotors always has strictly abided by the laws of China and the United States and takes protection of intellectual property rights seriously.

Company spokesperson Isabel Jiang also stated that once they were notified in late June 2018 that US authorities were investigating Zhang, they secured his computer and office equipment and denied him access to his work. They subsequently fired him.

XPeng also said that Zhang signed an intellectual property compliance document on the day he joined, and that there was “no record that he reported any sensitive and illegal situations” to the company.

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Apple settles Butterfly Keyboard lawsuit for $50 million!

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Apple just agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the controversial butterfly keyboard used in its MacBook laptops!

Apple Sued For Controversial Butterfly Keyboard!

Apple introduced the controversial butterfly keyboard mechanism to their MacBook laptops from 2015 to 2019, to make them slimmer.

The butterfly mechanism uses mirrored switches that expand like wings, unlike the typical scissor mechanism used in laptop keyboards which uses two interlocking switches that click together when the key is pressed.

While the butterfly mechanism made the keys thinner, they also made the keyboard prone to trapping dust and debris, resulting in sticky and/or easily broken keys.

Apple added a membrane to the butterfly mechanism, in an effort to make it quieter while keeping debris out; but it didn’t help. Small design changes in 2019 also did little to improve the keyboard.

The Wall Street Journal even printed a famous typo-ridden column to demonstrate the butterfly mechanism’s issues in 2019.

Two law firms – Girard Sharp LLP, and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP – then bought on a class action lawsuit, claiming that Apple was aware of the problem but failed to rectify the problem and do enough in supporting customers who experienced the problem.

Apple Settles Butterfly Keyboard Lawsuit For $50 million!

On July 18, 2022, Apple filed a $50 million settlement in San Jose, California, to settle the class action lawsuit over its butterfly keyboard.

If approved by a judge, the law firms can claim up to $15 million out of the $50 million settlement, for legal fees. Apple denied any wrongdoing, and did not offer any comments.

The rest of the settlement would be used to pay customers who bought a MacBook, MacBook Air, and most MacBook Pro laptops between 2015 and 2019 in seven US states :

California
Florida
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
Washington

Under the proposed settlement, customers who had issues with their butterfly keyboards in those states will receive :

up to $395, for those who had to replace multiple keyboards
$125 for those who had a single keyboard replacement
$50 for those who had to replace key caps

Apple dumped the butterfly keyboard for the more traditional scissor mechanism keyboard in 2019, with the introduction of the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the Magic Keyboard.

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Did Dutch Gov Close Farms To Fight Climate Change?!

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Did the Dutch government just close thousands of farms and cattle ranches to fight climate change?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Dutch Government Closed Farms To Fight Climate Change!

People have been sharing videos of angry farmers blocking roads with their tractors, claiming that they are protesting the closure of farms and cattle ranchers by the Dutch government.

Such videos are now being spread in pro-CCP groups as “evidence” of corrupt Western governments, or how Western governments oppress the common people.

28 June 2022
As the Dutch government closed dozens of farms and cattle ranches to reduce nitrogen by 30%.
Angry and hungry farmers blocked the roads nationwide
Corrupt Dutch govt trying to artificially create food shortage.

Following politicians’ decision to close dozens of farms and cattle ranches to reduce nitrogen to comply with absurd EU rules on nitrogen pollution, angry Dutch farmers have issued an ultimatum and are threatening to block the country’s airports, ports and distribution centers.

The Dutch government wants to close 17,000 farms out of 50,000 by 2030 to reduce Nitrogen emissions. Their “leaders” have bought into the climate change hysteria during a time of impending global food shortages. These bozos have a few screws missing.

Truth : Dutch Government Did NOT Close Farms To Fight Climate Change!

These posts appear to be an intentional “misunderstanding” of the facts surrounding these Dutch farmers’ protests.

These protests have been covered extensively, and so have the Dutch government’s proposal. So it seems incredulous that people would continue to lie about this issue.

Fact #1 : Dutch Government Did NOT Close Any Farm / Cattle Ranch

Let’s start with the most basic fact – the Dutch government did not close any farm or cattle ranch. This is complete and utter nonsense.

There are no laws in the Netherlands that would permit the Dutch government to forcibly take over, or shut down, any farm or cattle ranch.

This kind of blatant lie can only perpetuate in the minds of conspiracy nutcases, and Chinese netizens because only authoritarian governments (like the CCP in China) are capable of such actions.

Seizing and closing farms and cattle ranch may be possible for the government in China, but not in the Netherlands.

In fact, the Dutch government has offered BUY OUT (not close) farms near nature reserves.

Fact #2 : Dutch Farmers Have Been Protesting Since 2019!

What many of these “concerned netizens” (intentionally?) do not tell you is that Dutch farmers have been protesting against such climate change laws since 2019.

Dutch farmers protest in October 2019

Fact #3 : The Government Was Complying With A Court Order

This issue actually started way back in May 2019, the Dutch Administrative Court of the Council of State (the highest administrative body in the Netherlands) ruled that the Dutch government breached EU rules on protecting nature reserves from ammonia and nitrous oxide.

The Dutch Administrative Court suspended permits for all construction projects that pollute the atmosphere with nitrogen compounds, stalling the building of new homes, roads and airport runways… as well as the expansion of dairy, pig and poultry farms.

Fact #4 : Dutch Government Tried Other Measures First

To comply with the court order, the Dutch government tried other measures first.

For example, in 2020, they cut the maximum speed limit on roads in the Netherlands from 130 km/h to just 100 km/h for most of the day, to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.

The government also allocated more money to help farmers reduce emissions from pigs, and changed the composition of animal feed.

Fact #5 : Dutch Farms Produce A Lot Of Pollution

The problem is partly caused by Dutch farmers themselves. Their farms are highly concentrated, with four times more animal biomass per hectare than the EU average.

Dutch agriculture is responsible for 40% of the nitrogen pollution in the Netherlands. The entire construction sector, for example, is only responsible for 0.6% of nitrogen emissions.

Thanks to its large livestock sector, and intensive use of fertiliser, the Netherlands – the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter – is also one of the top greenhouse gas emitters in Europe.

Fact #6 : Only Farms Near Nature Reserves Are In Danger

Depending on their proximity to nature reserves (Natura-2000 areas), Dutch farms will have to reduce their nitrogen emissions by 12% to 70%.

Those located in or close to the Natura-2000 areas will be particularly hard-hit by the new nitrogen limits :

40% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value (< 255 mole per hectare) in 2025,
50% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value in 2030, and
74% of the nitrogen sensitive Natura-2000 areas must be below the critical deposition value in 2035.

Fact #7 : Provincial Government To Formulate Emission Reduction Plan

While the Dutch government came up with the plan to reduce nitrogen emissions to meet EU requirements, it is up to the Dutch provinces to develop the necessary measures to hit those targets.

Provincial governments have a year to formulate their own plans, to meet the pollution reduction targets.

Fact #8 : This Is Part Of EU Natura 2000 Conservation Efforts

This isn’t just a Dutch issue, it is actually part of the EU effort to protect the Natura 2000 network of vulnerable and endangered plant and animal habitats.

The Natura 2000 sites cover some 18% of the European Union land area, and 8% of its marine territory.

Fact #9 : Dutch Government Is Financing Agricultural Reforms

To help farmers meet those targets, the Dutch government has earmarked an extra €24.3 billion (about US$25.6 billion) to finance agricultural reforms and their existing buy-out programs.

Farmers who accept the government buy-out program can still open a new farm at a less sensitive location, as long as they substantially reduce nitrogen emissions.

Fact #10 : Protests Are ALLOWED In Real Democracies

What Chinese netizens may not be aware is that protests are not only common, they are allowed in real democracies.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, for example, defended the farmers’ right to protest, but reminded them not to break the law :

Freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are a vital part of our democratic society, and I will always defend them.

But … it is not acceptable to create dangerous situations, it is not acceptable to intimidate officials, we will never accept that.

With the exception of a few farmers setting bales of hay on fire outside town halls and near roads, and attacking police officers, the majority of farmers have protested the proposed plan peacefully.

So what the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens are deriding as chaos, is really just people expressing their real freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest. Try that in China, and see what that gets you.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Canadian General Cadieu “Captured” By Russia Is OTW Back!

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Canadian general Trevor Cadieu, who was allegedly captured by Russia, is on the way back to face sexual assault charges in Canada!

Find out what the heck is going on!

Claim : Russia Captured Canadian General Cadieu In Azovstal!

Pro-Russian websites, Chinese netizens and the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) have claimed since May 2022 that Russia captured Canadian Lieutenant General Trevor John Cadieu when he tried to escape from the Azovstal metalworks in Mariupol, Ukraine.

General Trevor Cadieu (Trevor John Cadieu), captured by Russian troops while trying to escape from the cellars of Azovstal, was the commander of the Canadian Ground Forces, APA reports citing Mailbd.

Seated in the catacombs under the Mariupol steel plant “Azovstal” nationalists staged a provocation, trying to hide the Canadian general’s attempt to escape. After the capture of a high-ranking foreign soldier by units of the RF Armed Forces, it became clear why so many efforts were made to save him.

A high-ranking mercenary tried to break out of the encirclement at Azovstal several times. It was for this that the West insisted on humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians: among them, foreign specialists had to leave the catacombs.

This Chinese example even claimed that NATO lost 5-6 helicopters and a ship trying to get General Cadieu out of Azovstal.

A lot of rumors that Russia has captured a Canadian general trying to escape thru sewer tunnels. Could be a few more NATO military advisers still in the plant

They have spent losing 5 or 6 helicopters and 1 ship trying to get the VVIP out.

Canadian General Cadieu “Captured” By Russia Is OTW Back!

Despite debunking it several times, both Russian and Chinese supporters continue to push the claims, even after Azovstal fell on 16 May 2022, and General Cadieu was nowhere to be found.

Russian and Chinese propaganda shifted course, claiming that General Cadieu was likely being held by Moscow as a bargaining chip, or being interrogated for his knowledge of Ukrainian and NATO plans to invade Russia.

There are a couple of problems with those claims :

In mid October 2021, Lieutenant General Trevor Cadieu was accused of sexual assault that he allegedly committed as a cadet in 1994.
He resigned and left the Canadian armed forces on 5 April 2022, after his appointment to head the Canadian army was derailed by those sexual assault charges.
He only left for Ukraine in April 2022 – weeks after Azovstal was surrounded by Russian forces. So it would have been impossible for him to be captured in Azovstal.

Now even their new claims are being proven false.

The months-long investigation into those sexual assault charges was completed, and he was formally charged with sexual assault on 15 June 2022.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, General Cadieu was informed of the charges, and he indicated in an email from Ukraine that he was “making arrangements to return to Canada from Ukraine“.

Yet again – Russian and Chinese propaganda have proven to be false.

Not only is former General Trevor Cadieu still not captured by Russian forces, he is arranging to return to Canada to face two sexual assault charges.

No NATO soldiers or generals were caught fighting in Ukraine, because there are no NATO soldiers or officers in Ukraine.

All NATO forces that were helping to train Ukrainian soldiers were pulled out before the Russian invasion began.

Russia is having trouble defeating Ukraine because it has a shitty army, not because thousands of NATO soldiers and officers are fighting with the Ukrainians.

No amount of fake news will change the fact that over 30 thousand Russian soldiers have been killed by the Ukrainians – twice as many Russia lost in their invasion of Afghanistan.

No amount of fake news will also change the fact that Russia lost over 1,500 tanks, and over 3,700 armoured fighting vehicles, as of 3 July 2022.

The Russian “special operation” is bogged down by tenacious Ukrainian defences, with nary a NATO soldier or officer in sight. Just a lot of NATO supplied weapons.

If NATO was truly involved, they would have rolled the piss-poor Russian army back into Russia. Instead, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has now stagnated into a slow artillery siege of the Donbas region.

Variants of this FAKE NEWS are now being shared in pro-Russia and pro-CCP websites and groups.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Ghislaine Maxwell Just Commit Suicide In Prison?!

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Did socialite Ghislaine Maxwell just commit suicide in jail, a few hours after she was sentenced to 20 years in prison?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Ghislaine Maxwell Just Committed Suicide In Prison!

Within hours of news breaking that Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking, Vancouver Times posted a story claiming that she just committed suicide!

Ghislaine Maxwell was found hanging in her cell hours after she was sentenced to 20 years in jail, according to sources at the detention center she was staying at. Similar to Jeffrey Epstein, the guards have stated that cameras were not working at her time of death.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the child raping socialite who once consorted with elite figures, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein abuse and torture underage girls.

Activists are cheering on Maxwell’s death, stating that they are happy that Maxwell is no longer on this planet, but dismayed she didn’t spend more time in jail.

Her partner in crime, Jeffrey Epstein, killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial. Epstein, along with Maxwell, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14. Prosecutors said Maxwell gave him the help he needed to make it happen.

When Maxwell was found hanging in her cell, prison medics were unable to revive her. She was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

The mainstream media and big tech want to hide the truth. Beat them at their own game by sharing this article!

Truth : Ghislaine Maxwell Did Not Commit Suicide In Prison!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by Vancouver Times to generate page views and money from gullible people.

Fact #1 : Vancouver Times Is A Fake News Website

Vancouver Times is a “content aggregator” (copy and paste) website that is known for creating fake news to generate more page views and money.

To look legitimate, they copy and paste news from legitimate news organisations. To drive traffic, they create fake news, sometimes masked as “satire”.

To give themselves a veneer of deniability, they label themselves as a “satire website” in their About Us section.

Vancouver Times is the most trusted source for satire on the West Coast. We write satirical stories about issues that affect conservatives.

Here are some of their fake news that we debunked :

Fact #2 : Ghislaine Maxwell Did Not Commit Suicide

There is no evidence Ghislaine Maxwell committed suicide in prison.

For one thing – the US Bureau of Prisons would have to publicly announce her death, if not the circumstances of her death.

You may also note that no mainstream media, not even celebrity blogs, have reported on her death, never mind suicide by hanging.

It would have been worldwide news, and yet there has been zero coverage, because it never happened.

Fact #3 : Ghislaine Maxwell Was Not Suicidal

A psychologist evaluated Ghislaine Maxwell on Saturday morning, June 25, 2022, and determined that she is not suicidal.

The evaluation was ordered because her attorney claimed that she was unable to properly prepare for her sentencing.

Fact #4 : Ghislaine Maxwell Was On Suicide Watch

Ghislaine Maxwell was placed under suicide watch prior to her sentencing, even though she was deemed not to be suicidal.

She was removed from the general population at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, together with her normal clothing; and given a “suicide smock” to wear in supervised solitary confinement.

Fact #5 : Her 20-Year Sentence Was Expected

Prosecutors have asked for Ghislaine Maxwell to receive between 30 and 55 years in jail, after her conviction last year, while the probation department recommended 20 years.

Judge Alison Nathan herself calculated that the sentencing guidelines called for about 15½ to 19½ years in prison.

Her final sentence of 20 years was in the ballpark of what was expected. Even though it was slightly higher than what the judge calculated, it is much lower than what the prosecution asked for.

So there is really no reason for her to commit suicide. It was not like the judge issued a harsher than expected jail sentence.

Fact #6 : There Is No Such Thing As A Publication Ban

Vancouver Times likes to use the “media blackout” claim, to explain why you can’t find any reputable media outlet reporting on Ghislaine Maxwell’s suicide.

That’s utter and complete bullshit. No one – not a judge, not even the US government – can control the worldwide media, or prevent anyone from writing about her suicide.

You can also be sure that even if the mainstream media in the US refused to run the story, it would have been reported by the celebrity websites and bloggers.

Yet, not a single celebrity blogger or online website published their account of this incredible story? That’s because IT NEVER HAPPENED…

Fact #6 : Mainstream Media + Big Tech Would Have Loved The Hype

Vancouver Times is gaslighting you about how mainstream media and Big Tech want to hide the “truth” about Ghislaine Maxwell’s suicide.

They would all loved such shocking news, because it would have driven tons of traffic and engagement to their websites / platforms.

In fact, that was precisely why Vancouver Times created the fake story – to drive traffic, for the ad money.

Everything that Vancouver Times publishes should be regarded as FAKE NEWS, until proven otherwise.

Please help us fight fake news websites like Vancouver Times – SHARE this fact check out, and SUPPORT our work!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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