KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been embroiled in yet another controversy following the recent arrest of three of its senior officials over allegedly misappropriating funds involving a portion of US$6 million (RM25 million) in seized funds belonging to the government.
A well-placed source in the MACC told The Vibes that the three officials were arrested last week in connection with the alleged counterfeiting of cash seized from former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation director-general Datuk Hasanah Abd Hamid three years ago.
Confirming a report by Edisi Siasat, the source indicated that the millions in US banknotes were seized by the MACC as evidence into the criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges involving a total of US$12.1 million levelled against Hasanah.
The site also wrote that the three officials were remanded by the MACC for six days from September 14, but questions remain as to why it is being treated as an internal investigation instead of a police case.
Edisi Siasat also alleged that at least one of the men arrested were closely linked to MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki, adding that the suspect has an alleged history of drug abuse.
The site also claimed that a police report had been lodged on the matter, but the MACC probe was launched instead due to the commissioner’s alleged ties with the suspect.
The Vibes has reached out to Azam for comment but he has yet to respond at press time.
On the other hand, police made a statement at 12.36am saying they have not received any reports on the issue.
“We take note of the viral matter related to the remand of three senior MACC officers after alleged being involved in a US$6 million cash theft case. We can confirm that no reports have been lodged over the matter.”
The evidence money, which was seized under the MACC’s Ops Dinar 2 at a condominium in Cyberjaya in 2018, was due to be returned to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently. However, a large portion of it came back in the form of fake notes.
It is understood that the money was supposed to be returned to Hasanah, who would then be required to reimburse the PMO, but the former intelligence chief discovered a large portion of the money given to her were counterfeit notes.
“The officers involved had requested for two weeks to return the money in their custody, in which time they converted it to counterfeit notes and returned it,” the source said without elaborating on the deadline to return the cash.
On April 12, Hasanah was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the high court after judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh said the prosecution applied to refrain from further prosecuting her.
Shahrir added that the court could not compel the continuation of proceedings due to the fact that the prosecution decided to withdraw, adding that the prosecution provided good and valid reasons behind its refusal to continue the trial. However, the prosecution confirmed that Hasanah will be made to face charges in the future.
The judge then ordered all exhibits and evidence tendered and produced before the court to be returned to the prosecution team.
On October 25, 2018, Hasanah pleaded not guilty to the CBT charge involving US$12.1 million belonging to the government.
The prosecution initially alleged she committed the offence when she served as director-general of the Prime Minister’s Department’s research division in Putrajaya between April 30 and May 9, 2018.
The offence, which is provided for in Section 409 of the Penal Code, states that those found guilty can be imprisoned up to 20 years, whipped and fined. – The Vibes, September 20, 2021
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