[UPDATED] LCS saga: MACC to charge former senior BNS figure with CBT tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be charging a former senior Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) official with criminal breach of trust (CBT) at the sessions court here tomorrow.

The Star, quoting sources, reported that the case will be brought to court tomorrow morning in relation to the controversial RM6 billion littoral combat ship project.

The source privy to the matter revealed that charges will be made tomorrow, saying “yes, we are charging a certain individual tomorrow (Tuesday),” they were quoted as saying by the English daily today.  

Earlier today, the MACC had its eye on an operations director as a person of interest in the LCS controversy.  

An anonymous source from the anti-graft body told Utusan Malaysia today that the individual is considered a “very important” person in the LCS procurement scandal, which saw the government forking out more than RM6 billion for six ships that have yet to be completed.

The source said that the decision to prosecute the individual was made after investigators in the case interviewed 35 witnesses. 

“All witnesses called in were believed to be individuals from the Defence Ministry and corporate companies that were offered the LCS project. 

“Statements were also recorded from local and international private companies,” the source was quoted as saying, confirming that MACC had submitted an investigation report to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and is awaiting further instructions. 

The source noted that the AGC will decide whether the case can be tried based on the evidence provided. 

Last week, the MACC said it had completed investigations into several individuals linked to the LCS controversy, adding that it had submitted investigation papers to the AGC for further action against the persons. 

The announcement followed recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the anti-graft agency to take prosecutive action against those behind the alleged LCS scandal.

Besides the PAC report, others produced were the Special Committee on Governance Investigation, Government Procurement and Finance (JKSTUPKK) report and a forensic audit report. 

On August 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the cabinet had agreed to declassify the JKSTUPKK report.

Subsequently, former deputy defence minister Liew Chin Tong said Ismail Sabri should sack Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein if the necessary government documents related to the LCS project are not declassified by tomorrow. – The Vibes, August 15, 2022