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The Star
08-05-2025
- The Star
Cops visit office, home of ‘Tan Sri' linked to MBI
GEORGE TOWN: Police visited the office and house of a 53-year-old businessman with a 'Tan Sri' title who was arrested to facilitate investigation into the Mobility Beyond Imagination (MBI) investment scam. The team from Bukit Aman spent about two hours in the businessman's office in Bayan Baru where he was seen clad in an orange detention outfit, before heading to his residence in Gelugor. It is not known if any materials or assets were seized during the visits to the two locations. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting director Datuk Muhammed Hasbullah Ali confirmed that the suspect was taken to both his office and home on Friday to facilitate in on-going investigations. He said a press conference would be held later to provide updates on the progress of the Ops Northern Star investigation. The 'Tan Sri' was arrested upon his return from overseas at about 2am on Thursday. This brings the total of those detained to 14. The arrests of 13 suspects earlier – who included two 'Tan Sri' businessmen and a 'Datuk Seri' – were made between March 21 and April 21, with RM3.5bil in assets seized, including a hotel and durian plantations linked to the MBI investment scam. Among the durian plantations seized were plantations in Pahang, Penang and Kedah worth RM223,624,167.75. An additional 299 bank accounts with RM123,614,594.35 had also been frozen. These assets were believed to have been purchased or had links to the proceeds from the scheme's illegal gains.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Third ‘Tan Sri' nabbed in RM3.5bil MBI scam probe
KUALA LUMPUR: Another 'Tan Sri' has been nabbed over his alleged involvement in the Mobility Beyond Imagination (MBI) investment scam. This brings the total of those detained in the ongoing investigation to 14 people. Sources said the 53-year-old man was detained in Penang at about 2am yesterday after he returned from overseas. 'He arrived from overseas via Kuala Lumpur International Airport and made his way to Penang. 'He is believed to be either the syndicate's proxy or a business partner of the suspects,' sources said. The police are also investigating the possibility of the suspect's involvement in money laundering for the syndicate. 'He is believed to have received profits from the investment scam for money laundering purposes,' sources said. Meanwhile, IGP secretariat's Anti-Money Laundering (Amla) division head Comm Datuk Muhammad Hasbullah Ali confirmed the arrest under Ops Northern Star. 'However, we have not seized any belongings so far. 'We are still investigating the case,' he said. The Star previously reported that two prominent businessmen with Tan Sri titles and a Datuk Seri were already in custody. The arrests of the earlier 13 suspects were made between March 21 and April 21, which has now seen RM3.5bil in assets including a hotel and durian plantations linked to the MBI investment scheme previously seized. 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 one of the Tan Sri, a businessman, had been acting as both partner to the investment scam and a proxy to the victims. As of now, no other 'influential figures' such as politicians are on the police radar and others who were being pursued are businessmen, said Comm Muhammad Hasbullah.
The Star
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
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.
Barnama
30-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Ideal Property Refutes Allegations Linked To MBI Scam, Lodges MCMC And Police Reports
GEORGE TOWN, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Ideal Property Group has dismissed allegations circulating on social media claiming the investigation and arrest of its group executive chairman in connection with the authorities' investigation into the scam linked to MBI International Group (MBI). Ideal Property Group, in a statement today, stressed that the group operates with strict adherence to the law and ethical business principles, while the organisation is committed to maintaining the highest levels of professional integrity and operational transparency. 'Recently, Ideal Property Group has come across fake news and false postings on uncredited social media, falsely alleging the investigation and arrest of our group executive chairman in connection with the authorities' investigation into the MBI Group. 'Ideal Property Group strongly refutes the false and malicious allegations and categorically denies these baseless and defamatory statements,' according to the statement posted on Facebook. To address this, Ideal Property Group has lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the police and will take immediate legal action to protect its reputation. The group also pledge to continue to exhibit solid operational performance and maintain its unwavering focus on executing current projects and fulfilling all obligations to its various stakeholders with excellence. On April 22, police arrested five more individuals, including two bearing the titles Tan Sri and Datuk Seri, believed to be proxies and business associates involved in a Ponzi-type investment scam linked to MBI. Head of the Criminal Investigation Team on Money Laundering (AMLA) under the Inspector-General of Police's Secretariat (USKPN), Datuk Muhammed Hasbullah Ali, said that besides arresting the five individuals, police have also seized three durian orchards spanning nearly 900 acres, valued at RM223,624,167, located in Raub, Pahang; Jawi, Penang; and Tasek, Kedah. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain was previously reported to have said that eight individuals were arrested and assets worth RM3.17 billion were seized in connection with the fraudulent scheme.
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Ideal Property Group denies chairman linked to MBI scam, lodges report over ‘false and malicious' claims
GEORGE TOWN, April 30 — The Ideal Property Group has dismissed allegations circulating on social media claiming the investigation and arrest of its group executive chairman in connection with the authorities' investigation into the scam linked to MBI International Group (MBI). Ideal Property Group, in a statement today, stressed that the group operates with strict adherence to the law and ethical business principles, while the organisation is committed to maintaining the highest levels of professional integrity and operational transparency. 'Recently, Ideal Property Group has come across fake news and false postings on uncredited social media, falsely alleging the investigation and arrest of our group executive chairman in connection with the authorities' investigation into the MBI Group. 'Ideal Property Group strongly refutes the false and malicious allegations and categorically denies these baseless and defamatory statements,' according to the statement posted on Facebook. To address this, Ideal Property Group has lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the police and will take immediate legal action to protect its reputation. The group also pledged to continue to exhibit solid operational performance and maintain its unwavering focus on executing current projects and fulfilling all obligations to its various stakeholders with excellence. On April 22, police arrested five more individuals, including two bearing the titles Tan Sri and Datuk Seri, believed to be proxies and business associates involved in a Ponzi-type investment scam linked to MBI. Head of the Criminal Investigation Team on Money Laundering (AMLA) under the Inspector-General of Police's Secretariat (USKPN), Datuk Muhammed Hasbullah Ali, said that besides arresting the five individuals, police have also seized three durian orchards spanning nearly 900 acres, valued at RM223,624,167, located in Raub, Pahang; Jawi, Penang; and Tasek, Kedah. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain was previously reported to have said that eight individuals were arrested and assets worth RM3.17 billion were seized in connection with the fraudulent scheme. Razarudin said the arrests were part of a cross-border operation launched following information obtained via an Interpol Red Notice. — Bernama
