Unearthing more dirt on Mohd Arif

MACC officers escorting Mohd Arif at the magistrate's court in Putrajaya on Thursday.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is zeroing in on 10 plots of land acquired by Datuk Mohd Arif Ab Rahman when he was serving with the Selangor state government.

Sources said the MACC would scrutinise the files on transactions involving the properties, some of which involve commercial land, in order to determine how and when the secretary-general of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry bought them.

“We believe the plots of land were acquired when the suspect was holding the position of Subang Jaya Municipal Council president in 2005 and as Selangor financial officer in 2007.

“All the plots of land are located in Selangor and we have reason to believe that he could have used his position in power to amass the properties,” said a source.

The MACC will also trace back projects when the suspect was the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry secretary-general to find out whether any were given out in exchange for favours.

The sources said records showed the suspect conducted all his dealings using only two methods – cash and gold bars – adding that the family also trades in gold bars, raking in hefty profits over the years.

It is learnt that the family, due to their wealth, would usually pay for airfares using their own money when going on holiday trips overseas.

“But we are checking whether other parties sponsored their other expenses upon arrival at the overseas destinations,” another source said.

So far, stacks of documents have been seized in relation to the probe which is centred on corruption, abuse of power and money laundering.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said investigations were still in the initial stage.

“No arrest yet but very soon. Give us some time,” he said.

On Wednesday, the MACC arrested Mohd Arif at his Subang Jaya home just as he was about to leave for work.

His two sons were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after they were called in for questioning.

Officers who conducted a 12-hour search at Mohd Arif’s house found gold bars, 150 luxury handbags, branded watches and foreign currencies.

The anti-graft body is also working with the Inland Revenue Board to ascertain if the Datuk had evaded paying taxes since 2010.