Latest news with #coercion
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
MP offered private ambulance to attend assisted dying vote
Northern Irish MP Sorcha Eastwood, a vocal opponent of the assisted dying bill, was initially unable to attend a critical Westminster vote due to a Covid -19 infection. An entrepreneur offered to transport Eastwood via private ambulance if she tested negative, and she later indicated she would travel if her tests allowed. The assisted dying bill faces a very close vote, with four Labour MPs announcing a switch from supporting to opposing the legislation shortly before the vote. Over 60 disability organizations and public polling raised significant concerns about the bill's impact on people with learning disabilities, citing fears of coercion and issues with informed consent. The prime minister rejected calls for a delay to the vote, and the bill's proponent warned that rejection could mean a decade-long wait for the issue to be debated again.
Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
MPs fight to criminalise pills-by-post abortions
MPs are seeking a law change to ban the unsupervised use of abortion 'pills by post' to prevent women being coerced into terminations. Nearly 30 MPs including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory party leader, are backing an amendment to the Government's policing Bill which would crack down on the pills-by-post scheme to prevent it being abused by coercive partners or result in mistaken terminations. The postal scheme enables women who are fewer than 10 weeks pregnant to access abortion medication after a phone or video consultation with a doctor. It was introduced in the pandemic to ensure women could continue to access terminations during early pregnancy. The scheme was made permanent in March 2022. Critics have said the removal of the requirement for an in-person medical appointment leaves the process open to abuse. Last year, a 40-year old man from Norfolk was jailed for 12 years for administering pills obtained by post to a woman without her knowledge after he crushed up the medication in a glass of orange juice. Stuart Worby's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered a miscarriage in hospital within hours of the assault, which happened in 2022. Worby obtained the medication from a friend, who posed as a woman in need of an abortion. Require medical checks Caroline Johnson, a Tory MP, is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which would bar a woman from securing abortion pills for use at home without a prior in-person appointment with a doctor or appropriate medical professional. This would allow medics to check for any health risks, the woman's gestational age and the possibility of a coerced abortion. The move has already been backed by 27 MPs across six political parties and, according to new polling, has support from the public. Two-thirds of women backed a return to in-person appointments with 4 per cent in favour of the status quo, according to a poll of 2,103 adults by Whitestone Insight. Prevent 'coerced or dangerous abortions' Ms Johnson said: 'Since its introduction, the safeguarding risks caused by the 'pills by post' scheme have been evident, with one man able to obtain pills by a third party to induce a woman to have an abortion against her will or knowledge. 'Other women have taken the pills later in pregnancy, in some cases because they were mistaken about their gestation, putting themselves in danger. 'Women would continue to be able to take abortion pills at home but, in line with public support, my amendment would reinstate prior in-person consultations so medical professionals are able to accurately assess a woman's gestational age, any health risks and the risk of coercion before abortion pills can be prescribed. 'This would protect women and prevent further cases of coerced or dangerous abortions arising as a result of the pills by post scheme.' Cross-party support Among MPs backing the law change alongside Sir Iain are Tim Farron, the former Lib Dem leader; Neil O'Brien, the former health minister; Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House; Bob Blackman, the chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee; Mary Glindon, the former Labour opposition whip and Rachael Maskell, the former health and social care select committee member and Labour shadow minister. Catherine Robinson, of the pro-life group Right to Life UK, said: 'The controversial amendment that made at-home abortions permanent passed by a razor-thin margin of just 27 votes. A large number of MPs raised serious concerns about the negative impact these schemes would have on women. Since then, we have seen these concerns tragically borne out.' Ms Robinson noted the case of Carla Foster, who was jailed in 2023 for taking abortion pills after the legal cut-off time during lockdown. She said: 'Women such as Carla Foster have performed at-home abortions well beyond the 24-week time limit, putting their health at serious risk. 'Had Carla Foster been given an in-person consultation, where her gestation could have been accurately determined, she would not have been able to access abortion pills, and this tragic case would have been prevented. 'The solution is clear. We urgently need to reinstate in-person appointments. 'This simple safeguard would prevent women's lives from being put at risk from self-administered late-term abortions, a danger that would be exacerbated if abortion were 'decriminalised' right up to birth.'
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Sean Combs's Ex-Girlfriend to Resume Testimony About Sex Under Duress
A former girlfriend of Sean Combs is set to retake the stand on Monday at his federal trial to continue her testimony about a series of sex marathons with male prostitutes, which she said she felt pressured to continue because Mr. Combs was funding her livelihood. As the trial enters its fifth week, prosecutors are expected to drill down on a key part of their sex-trafficking case: allegations of financial coercion. The former girlfriend, who is known in court by the pseudonym Jane, spent more than seven hours last week testifying about her tumultuous relationship with the music mogul, which started in 2021 and continued until his arrest in 2024. Mr. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and his lawyers have denied that the sex at the center of the case was ever coercive. Jane testified last week that in an effort to fulfill her boyfriend's fantasies, she began to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with a succession of hired men that the couple called 'debauchery' or 'hotel nights.' Her account of the sex marathons — which could last for days and typically involved Mr. Combs watching and masturbating — aligned with the 'freak-offs' described by Casandra Ventura, another former girlfriend who testified at the start of the case. The pattern of 'hotel nights' left Jane feeling used, exhausted and at times sick, she testified. But Mr. Combs was dismissive when she voiced her reluctance, she said, and she continued out of a desire to please him. At times, she arranged to hire certain 'entertainers' herself so she could choose the men involved, she testified. The dynamic shifted in 2023, when Mr. Combs began paying her $10,000-a-month rent. Jane said she feared losing her home if she did not comply. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News24
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Another Diddy ex testifies to ‘obligation' in coerced, choreographed sexual encounters
A key witness, 'Jane,' has provided graphic testimony in the federal trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, alleging coercive sexual encounters. Combs allegedly orchestrated disturbing acts involving multiple women, with testimony also backing claims made by ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura. The trial has featured intense courtroom moments, including accusations of witness manipulation by Combs and shocking allegations from witnesses about violent and exploitative behaviour. A key witness took the stand in the federal trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs Thursday, giving graphic detail of choreographed sexual encounters with the music mogul that were allegedly coercive, testimony that's core to the prosecution's case. The woman, who is speaking in court under the pseudonym Jane, began delivering testimony that is expected to last for days and which so far mirrors descriptions provided by another marquee witness against Combs, his ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura. Combs, 55, faces upwards of life in prison if convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking crimes. Both Jane and Ventura are key witnesses to the latter charges. Jane took the stand after some courtroom drama: the judge threatened to remove Combs after he was 'looking at jurors and nodding vigorously' while a different witness testified. Calling Combs's behaviour 'absolutely unacceptable,' Judge Arun Subramanian said, 'It cannot happen again.' READ | 'Sometimes I scream in my sleep': Witness claims Diddy dangled her from 17th-story balcony Communications between a defendant and a jury are strictly prohibited. The court had been hearing testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Ventura's who had alleged that Combs dangled her from a 17th-story balcony before throwing her against furniture. Combs's gestures to the jury took place as Bongolan was under tense questioning from his defence team, who sought to cast her as an unreliable witness who abused drugs. 'Hotel nights' Jane's testimony was highly anticipated: she began by detailing how she had met Combs through a friend who was dating him at the time. But he came on strongly to Jane, she said, and when her friend got engaged to someone else, she began seeing Combs romantically. Their relationship began in earnest during a whirlwind five-day date at a Miami hotel, she said, describing Combs - as many others during the trial have - as 'larger than life.' READ MORE | Hush money bombshell: Hotel worker testifies Diddy paid to bury Cassie assault video 'I was pretty head over heels for Sean,' she told jurors. Several heady months followed, including a romantic trip to Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas in February 2021. She said Combs first gave her illicit drugs on that trip. When the vacation ended, he wired her $10 000 because she had been unable to work - at the time, she was creating content for brands on social media - and was a single mother. Jane silently collected herself and held her face in a tissue as she described how her blissful early days with Combs took a sharp turn in May 2021 when he began talking about his fantasies of seeing her with other men. She acquiesced because she wanted to make Combs happy, she said, and to her surprise, he arranged for another man she dubbed Don to meet them at a hotel that very night. AFP Jane thought the experience was a one-time thing, but she said instead, it became 'a door I was unable to shut.' The 'hotel nights' became a regular feature of their relationship, Jane told jurors, even when she said she didn't want it. 'He was just dismissive,' she said, saying that approximately 90 percent of their relationship became a pattern of her having sex with other men under Combs's direction. Full-time job Jane's descriptions of the 'hotel nights' - her provocative attire that Combs requested, red mood lighting, heavy drug use and copious baby oil - closely tracked with the testimony that Ventura gave on the stand of what she called 'freak-offs.' Jane said that the amount of time she spent getting ready for hotel nights with Combs, which he demanded at a moment's notice and sometimes flew her to, meant she did not work. Money from Combs and child support from her previous relationship were essentially her only income, she said. That testimony echoed Ventura's, who had said her freak-offs with Combs came to feel like a full-time job. Combs put Jane up in a home in Los Angeles for $10 000 a month, she said, and when she spoke against hotel nights, he would bring up that point. ALSO READ | 'You post the great times': Witness asked to defend Instagram posts in Sean Combs trial 'My feeling of obligation really started to stem from the fact that my partner was paying my rent,' she said. Jane told jurors their relationship continued up until Combs's arrest in September 2024. Prosecutors say he ran a criminal enterprise of high-ranking employees and bodyguards who enforced his power with illicit acts, including kidnapping, bribery and arson. Along with Ventura and Jane, witnesses have included former employees of Bad Boy Enterprises, Combs's company. Jane's testimony will continue on Friday. The trial is expected to last at least another month.
Malay Mail
31-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Drug mules or victims? Confronting the legal dilemma of forced criminality — Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid
MAY 31 — Malaysia is facing a pressing human rights and legal crisis. We see a growing number of citizens being exploited by international drug syndicates as couriers, and many are ending up on death row in foreign countries. From 2021 to 2023, 77 Malaysians were arrested overseas for drug trafficking. In 2023 alone, 28 individuals were detained in various countries including the United Kingdom, France, China and the Maldives. As of early 2024, 74 Malaysians are reported to be on death row abroad, convicted for transporting narcotics across borders — often under circumstances that suggest coercion or deception. The majority were not hardened criminals, but individuals lured by false job offers, online romance scams, or the promise of quick money. Syndicates have used social media platforms to offer payments of RM5,000 to RM10,000 per trip to smuggle drugs, exploiting economic desperation and emotional vulnerability. In early 2024, British authorities noted a threefold increase in cannabis seizures at Scottish airports involving Malaysians, underscoring the scale of the problem. Closer to home, the Johor Bahru–Singapore trafficking corridor has become a known route for cross-border smuggling. In one high-profile case, Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was convicted in Singapore in 2017 for trafficking over 50 grams of diamorphine. He has consistently maintained he was unaware the parcel he was carrying contained drugs and alleged he was coerced by a trafficker known as 'Anand.' The late Kalwant Singh, executed in 2022, similarly claimed he was forced into transporting narcotics by an individual identified only as 'Anna.' These cases reveal a deeper systemic flaw, as drug syndicates exploit loopholes in Malaysia's legal framework and take advantage of jurisdictional boundaries that restrict foreign authorities such as Singapore from investigating trafficking operations within Malaysian territory. Despite the clear patterns of coercion and manipulation, Malaysia's current legal structure provides little to no protection for individuals caught in these scenarios. While the Penal Code does include defences such as duress/threat (s.94) and mistake of fact (s.76), these provisions are narrowly defined and often inapplicable in complex trafficking cases involving psychological pressure or deceit. More critically, Section 25 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) only grants immunity to victims for immigration-related offences — not for more serious crimes like drug trafficking, even when such acts were committed under coercion. Drug syndicates exploit loopholes in Malaysia's legal framework and take advantage of jurisdictional boundaries. — Unsplash pic This legal gap is at odds with international norms. Malaysia is a signatory to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol), which promotes a victim-centred approach and the principle of non-punishment — meaning victims should not be penalised for crimes committed as a direct consequence of their exploitation. Countries such as the United Kingdom have already translated this into domestic law through provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which provide statutory defences for trafficked persons compelled to commit offences. Malaysia, however, has yet to adopt similar legal safeguards. Without legislative reform, the government risks compounding the harm faced by victims. Trafficked Malaysians who are prosecuted abroad often lack adequate consular assistance, legal representation, or mechanisms for proper victim identification. The absence of guidelines or institutional support means that many are misclassified as criminals and denied access to justice, despite strong indicators of coercion. This reflects not only a failure of protection, but a fundamental failure of principle. Moving forward, ATIPSOM must be amended to include broader immunity provisions for victims of trafficking who are coerced into committing serious offences. Section 94 of the Penal Code, which governs duress, should also be revised to recognise psychological coercion and economic manipulation. Additionally, law enforcement, prosecutors, and consular officers must be trained to identify and support potential victims of forced criminality, particularly in cross-border contexts. Malaysia must also strengthen bilateral cooperation with destination countries to ensure the fair treatment, repatriation, and rehabilitation of its citizens who have been exploited by syndicates. Diplomatic intervention is crucial in cases where victims face the death penalty or life imprisonment without the opportunity to raise a trafficking defence. The time has come for Malaysia to move beyond a punitive approach and adopt a rights-based, victim-focused framework that reflects our international obligations and national conscience. Those coerced into crime should not be punished for their own victimisation. * Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid is a Criminologist and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
