Professionals, firms used to hide money trail in highway project, says MACC

Free Malaysia Today

2 days ago

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the corporate figure with a 'Tan Sri' title involved has yet to be questioned as he is still warded at a private hospital.
PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that the misappropriation of sukuk funds for a Klang Valley highway project involved professionals and multiple companies to obscure the flow of funds.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the professionals involved included auditors, financial experts, as well as engineers, Utusan Malaysia reported.
He also said the corporate figure with a 'Tan Sri' title involved has yet to be questioned as he is still warded at a private hospital.
'Today, investigators obtained a medical assessment from the attending doctor to verify the Tan Sri's condition before we can proceed to record his statement.
'In the meantime, 45 individuals who previously gave statements have been called back to provide further information,' he said.
Azam added that the investigation team is also tracking down luxury vehicles and properties belonging to the Tan Sri in London and Switzerland.
He said investigations now focus on the actual value of luxury alcoholic beverages in the Tan Sri's possession, amid suspicions that some of the misappropriated funds may have been transferred to other accounts.
'At the same time, a notice for asset declaration has been issued to the Tan Sri and other relevant parties,' he added.
To date, the seized assets include 14 individual bank accounts totalling RM4.5 million, eight company accounts totalling RM33 million, a luxury condominium and a plot of land valued at RM24.5 million, as well as nine vehicles worth RM7.65 million.
Azam said 13 more vehicles have yet to be handed over to investigators.
Also seized were luxury watches worth around RM25 million, designer handbags valued at RM3 million, jewellery and diamonds worth RM6 million, and four horses valued at RM400,000.
'RM3 million worth of alcoholic beverages, overseas assets valued at over RM15 million, and gambling activities estimated at around RM20 million are also under investigation.
'Investigations are also focussing on RM12 million in bribes allegedly paid to certain parties to facilitate the movement of funds out and back into the suspect's possession,' he said.
Previously, Azam said that the anti-graft agency was investigating three cases of alleged bribery and false claims connected to the Maju Expressway Extension (MEX II).
He said the first investigation paper involves false claims amounting to RM361 million which came from sukuk funds, while the second case concerns false disclosures involving RM416 million in sukuk funds and RM50 million in bank loans. The third case involves certain parties who allegedly solicited and received around RM12 million in bribes.