KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — Under-fire Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today he doesn’t fear repercussions from the Home Minister but is staying silent for fear of jeopardising the high-profile trial of an alleged Malaysian gambler in the US.

The country’s top policeman denied allegations he was afraid to address questions over a letter written by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the US that purportedly backed suspected gambling kingpin Paul Phua, news portal Malaysiakini reported.

“Come on, this has nothing to do with being scared of the boss,” Khalid was quoted saying at a news conference here.

“Like what I said, this issue is in proceedings [in the court in the United States].

“Those who talk a lot on this matter, they do not know laws and court procedures. I know,” Khalid said, insisting that he does not want “to jeopardise the on-going trial”.

Khalid has kept silent over claims made by prominent lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah that the police have cleared his client, Phua, over the latter’s involvement with a fearsome Hong Kong-based triad.

Shafee, whose law firm is assisting the defence counsel representing Phua in the US, claimed that Ahmad Zahid had sent a letter to US authorities pleading for the return of Paul Phua — who faces charges in Las Vegas for illegal gambling — but said the missive was not intended to vouch for the Taiwan-based former junket operator, as reported by some media.

The letter in question was ostensibly in response to a request for information about Phua’s supposed involvement with the 14K triad, which the Home Ministry confirmed as untrue as such a group does not exist in Malaysia, said the lawyer as a press conference last week.

US authorities have said Phua is part of the 14K triad, which has been described as a fearsome Hong Kong based triad with international reach.

Shafee also claimed that Zahid had also written that Phua, whose full name is Paul Phua Wei Seng, had provided assistance to the government on matters of national security.

The IGP also rubbished allegation that the government is working with the underworld.

“How can? This is not a matter of accusing the government… when an issue is in trial, whoever issues statements could be asked to be a witness, so I do not want to jeopardise the trial,” he said.

Khalid stressed that the 14k triad — which is allegedly responsible of large-scale drug trafficking — does not have a presence in Malaysia.

“We have very tough drug laws in this country, I don’t think any 14K [members] would like to be in this country,” he said, but did not rule out the possibility that Malaysians could be involved in the mafia movement overseas.

Both Phua and his son Darren were charged in a Las Vegas court on August 5 last year and were freed on bail totalling US$2.5 million (RM7.97 million).

Phua was also accused of attempted bribery, allegedly paying millions to Macau police in exchange for being freed from custody over an illegal gambling operation, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported in November.