Third Tan Sri nabbed in MBI probe, say cops
KUALA LUMPUR: Another Tan Sri has been nabbed over his alleged involvement in the MBI investment scam.
Sources said the 53-year-old man was detained at about 2am on Thursday (May 1) in Penang after he returned from overseas.
Sources said the suspect is believed to be a proxy for the syndicate.
"He is also a business partner of some of the suspects and received profits from the investment scam for money laundering purposes," sources said.
Meanwhile, the IGP secretariat's Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) division head Comm Datuk Muhammad Hasbullah Ali confirmed the arrest under Ops Northern Star.
ALSO READ: Cops nab another 'Tan Sri' over MBI investment scam
"However, we have not seized any belongings so far. We are still investigating the case further," he said.
Previously, it was reported that a 'Tan Sri' and a 'Datuk Seri' were the latest arrests under Ops Northern Star, which has now seen RM3.5bil in assets including a hotel and durian plantations linked to the MBI investment scheme being seized.
Comm Muhammad Hasbullah had said the 'Tan Sri' and 'Datuk Seri' were among five caught during the second round of arrests between April 18 and 21.
This brings the number of suspects arrested to 13, with eight previously caught between March 21 and April 5.
ALSO READ: Datuks held over MBI scam
'They (the latest arrested) have been remanded for between five and six days to assist investigations,' Comm Muhammad Hasbullah told a press conference at the division's headquarters here on Wednesday (April 30).
Among the assets seized this round were durian plantations in Pahang, Penang and Kedah worth RM223,624,167.75.
An additional 299 bank accounts with RM123,614,594.35 were also frozen, he said.
All these assets were believed to have been purchased or had links to the proceeds from the scheme's illegal gains.
Investigations showed that the 'Tan Sri', a businessman, had been acting as both partner to the investment scam and a proxy to the victims.
ALSO READ: More arrests expected in MBI scheme crackdown
As of now, no other influential figures such as politicians are on the police's radar and others who were being pursued are businessmen, said Comm Muhammad Hasbullah.
Previously, the police arrested another 'Tan Sri' and further checks showed that he had no direct links to the scam, but he had actually attempted to swindle one of the suspects.
Investigations showed that the 'Tan Sri' had offered to make the suspect's case 'go away' for RM25mil.
'The suspect had paid RM10mil as a deposit,' said Comm Muhammad Hasbullah, adding that the suspect told the police of the deal when he was arrested.
The 'Tan Sri' was later picked up following the suspect's police report.
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