MACC to call up 20 more witnesses in data centre graft case
MACC Investigation Division senior director Datuk Zainul Darus said that, so far, they have recorded statements from 12 individuals in connection with the case.
He said the three suspects – the project manager of a construction company and two company directors – arrested by MACC are still under remand, while a female suspect was released on Sunday after her remand order ended.
'So far, there have been no new arrests in this case,' he said yesterday, Bernama reported.
The media previously reported that a project manager detained for the corruption case was willing to burn almost RM1mil in cash to destroy evidence during an MACC raid on July 17.
According to sources, during the raid conducted at his home in Petaling Jaya, a team of officers found RM100 banknotes totalling almost RM1mil in flames.
Following a thorough inspection of the home, the MACC also found cash totalling approximately RM7.5mil stored in several boxes, three Rolex, Omega and Cartier watches, as well as jewellery such as rings and gold coins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Watchdog: Unexplained Wealth Orders can deter graft, recover stolen assets
KUALA LUMPUR: The introduction of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) could be a powerful tool to deter corruption and recover illicit assets, says Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Raymon Ram. He said a UWO would strengthen Malaysia's anti-corruption framework by targeting wealth disproportionate to an individual's known income, even without a prior conviction. "It empowers authorities to demand explanations for wealth that far exceeds legitimate earnings," he said. Raymon said similar frameworks in the UK and Australia have proven effective in holding high-level individuals accountable, adding that success in Malaysia would depend on impartial enforcement. In the UK where it was introduced in 2018, a UWO is a court order issued to compel the target to reveal the sources of their unexplained wealth. If they do not provide an adequate explanation, or provide unsatisfactory evidence, the asset will be considered "recoverable property" for the purposes of a civil recovery order under the British Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Poca). A UWO can be sought without any civil or criminal proceedings having begun. There is no need for the subject of a UWO to have been convicted of an offence or to have had a civil law judgement against them. "If applied fairly, UWOs would send a clear message that unexplained wealth won't go unchecked." On legal implementation, Raymon said either amending existing laws or introducing a new statute is viable, though he favours a dedicated law. "While the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) include asset-tracing tools, they only apply during investigations into specific offences. A standalone UWO law would allow earlier scrutiny and recovery." With RM277 billion lost to fraud and illicit outflows from 2018 to 2023, Raymon said enforcement tools have proven inadequate. He, however, acknowledged challenges, especially around constitutional safeguards like the presumption of innocence and property rights. "Since UWOs shift the burden of proof, they must be carefully framed to survive legal scrutiny. "Positioning them as civil mechanisms, as in the UK, could mitigate constitutional issues." He also stressed the need for institutional capacity-building. "Agencies like the MACC and police need stronger forensic tools and protection from political interference. Judicial oversight is crucial to prevent political misuse." Raymon believes properly implemented UWOs could greatly enhance elite accountability. "Ordinary Malaysians are rigorously vetted over income for scholarships or loans, while the wealthy often avoid such checks. "A UWO regime would help level that playing field by making it routine to question and claw back wealth that can't be lawfully accounted for, regardless of one's status or connections. He added that the possibility of having to justify wealth at any time could deter corruption. "Knowing that unexplained millions could prompt immediate legal action may make those who are corrupt think twice." Meanwhile, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) chairman Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz agreed that Malaysia should have a mechanism to combat corruption among the elites. "Having UWO would be one of the ways that Malaysia can consider since it is perceived as straight forward and more practical to recover the stolen wealth without undergoing court processes which will take decades. "It will bring about all parties to always be cautious about the resources of their wealth." He said in order to implement UWO; "We can consider having an independent body to regulate that matter so that the UWO will not be misused for political weapons against others who are not in line with the government." Yesterday, former Klang member of Parliament Charles Santiago said in a series of posts on X that Malaysia needs an UWO to hold all elites accountable. This follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent call for the sons of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to return their wealth if they cannot prove its sources. "This is not about rivalry, but fairness. We need a system where no one is beyond accountability, no matter how powerful.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
MACC boosts forensic probes, asset recovery in 13MP anti-corruption push
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will intensify its crackdown on corruption, financial leakages, and power abuse by upgrading operational tools, deepening forensic capabilities, and accelerating asset recovery. Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the move aligns with the governance reforms highlighted in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Azam stressed the commission's dual focus: rigorous enforcement and societal integrity education. 'MACC recognises public expectations and will fulfil this mandate to foster a corruption-free Malaysia, directly supporting economic resilience,' he said in a statement. The agency aims to embed ethical values through community programmes, cultivating 'principled citizens' to sustain long-term anti-graft efforts. Collaboration remains central to MACC's strategy. 'We stand united with the government and rakyat to achieve 13MP's socioeconomic goals, ensuring development benefits all equitably,' Azam added. The plan's emphasis on accountability mirrors MACC's ongoing initiatives, including high-profile asset seizures and cross-border corruption probes. - Bernama
Malaysiakini
2 days ago
- Malaysiakini
MACC to bolster ops, forensic probes in fight against corruption
The MACC will step up efforts to combat corruption, leakages and abuse of power by enhancing operational capacity, strengthening forensic investigations, recovering assets, and implementing preventive measures. Its chief commissioner Azam Baki said this is in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday, which emphasised the need to strengthen governance, integrity and accountability.
