MACC probes 20 firms for possible graft

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is hot on the trail of at least 20 companies that are believed to have been involved in graft and abuse of power involving a government-linked company (GLC) director who was arrested on Monday. 

The graft busters are also expected to arrest several more suspects soon. 

“Yes, you can definitely expect more arrests as our investigation continues,” one of the investigators told the New Straits Times yesterday. 

He said MACC had the list of companies that had been involved with the suspect. However, it was still unclear whether every company had paid bribes to the director. 

The investigator said the commission would move in on these companies, and based on evidence found, it would determine their involvement in the case. 

“We are unsure if all the companies are involved, but we have the list of companies that have dealt with the director in one way or another. 

“There are many who are involved with the suspect and the previous GLC he was in. “We are now identifying if there are even more companies involved,” he said. 

The investigator said the suspect was arrested for alleged abuse of power and graft during his five-year tenure as a chief executive officer of another GLC. 

As for the GLC that the suspect is currently a director in, the investigator said MACC was not investigating it yet. 

“As for now, we are not investigating his current GLC as it does not have anything to do with the corruption case. 

But if we discover issues that are related to the previous and new GLCs, MACC will not hesitate to raid it,” he said. 

When asked how the dealings went on between the GLC and the companies, he said investigators were still establishing the modus operandi. 

The investigator said MACC had arrested the GLC director on Monday and hoped by remanding the suspect in custody, he would divulge more details. 

He said the case had been investigated for several months following a public tip-off. The investigator said two other people were arrested along with the director, who is a Datuk. 

They were believed to be in cahoots with him, adding that they believed more information could be extracted from the duo. 

The two others were the 61-year-old managing director of a company and his 35-year-old brother, a former manager of the same company. 

The parent company of the GLC involved had been cooperative and responsive to the investigation, the investigator added. 

The 50-year-old suspect was arrested at his house in Shah Alam at 12.30pm on Monday and was taken to MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist in investigations. 

MACC, which had been monitoring the man for his lavish lifestyle, seized RM39.9 million from several bank accounts belonging to him and his family members. 

“A chief executive officer of a GLC (the suspect’s previous post and company) has RM39.9 million in his and his family members’ accounts? Surely this sets off alarm bells at MACC,” the investigator said. 

The source of the money was believed to be gratification received by the suspect during his five-year tenure at the previous GLC, where he started working in 2010. 

Sources told the NST yesterday that the suspect had awarded projects worth RM50 million to companies and received kickbacks in return. 

In Putrajaya yesterday, MACC obtained seven-day remand orders against the director and the two others who were arrested with him. 

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Ab Rahman granted the orders. 

The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission 2009 Act for suspicion of receiving bribes and abuse of power. 

In a separate case, the remand of a general manager of another GLC, who is also being investigated for alleged graft and abuse of power involving RM10 million, was extended another six days effective today. 

Two others arrested in connection with the same case were released on a RM10,000 bail with one surety each. 

On Nov 11, MACC seized RM30,000 in cash, two Audi TT cars, a Toyota Hilux, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle owned by the first suspect. 

Investigation revealed that the general manager had at least nine luxury properties worth RM8 million. 

MACC had also frozen several bank accounts belonging to the suspect, his wife and children involving an amount of RM2.5 million, believed to have been corruptly obtained. 

In Kuantan, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said business entities could be blacklisted or suspended if found involved in graft.  

He said a proposal on the matter had been submitted and approved by the government. “This stern action is needed to maintain the integrity and image of civil servants. 

So far, MACC has taken appropriate action with respect to parties involved in corruption,” he said at the Integrated Enforcement in Sustainable Forest Management seminar in a speech read by Pahang MACC director Datuk Wan Ramli Wan Abdullah. 

Dzulkifli called on all parties that were involved in the timber industry, particularly Forestry Department officers, to establish standard operating procedures in carrying out their tasks.  

“Do not open yourself to corruption while carrying out your duties. MACC needs the cooperation of all parties to fight corruption,” he said. 

Additional reporting by Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/11/189041/macc-probes-20-firms-possible-graft