MACC freezes RM29mil more in Sabah case

KUALA LUMPUR: An additional RM29mil has been frozen in the probe of misappropriated government funds meant for the poor.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said this came after more than RM150mil was seized in a “Sabah case”.

He revealed this in his speech during the 9th International Confe­rence on Financial Crime and Ter­rorism Financing here yesterday.

It is understood that the case involves the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Funds to carry out projects meant to help the rural community were allegedly siphoned off by certain officials believed to be working with several companies.

The culprits are believed to have pocketed more than RM100mil over several years.

Dzulkifli said the amount of corruption money forfeited in January and February this year totalled RM21.432mil, a 400% increase over the same period last year.

“The MACC has managed to crack many high-profile and public-interest cases, which involved predicated offences of corruption, by virtue of our domestic cooperation with Bank Negara and the compliance units of financial institutions.

“The amount seized and recovered has been staggering.

Important guest: Dzulkifli attending the International Conference on Financial Crime and Money Laundering at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

“Our achievement could only be credited to the growing awareness, influence, and excellent cooperation with our partners in the compliance community,” he said.

For the whole of last year, MACC forfeited RM4.95mil of graft money against RM3.94mil in 2015.

He said MACC, through its Anti-Money Laundering and Forfeiture of Property Division, works hand in hand with the Intelligence Depart­ment to develop suspect profiling and financial profiling.

“They constantly engage banking compliance officers where the compliance units help us with financial intelligence, particularly in providing Suspicious Transaction Reports and Currency Transaction Reports.

“These reports are key materials used by investigators to identify suspicious movements of money and act as an important base to commence further investigation.

“The compliance units also expedite the investigation process, inclu­ding by securing banking details and bankers’ books, cheques, bank statements, agreements and specimen signatures,” Dzulkifli said.

He called for strict compliance ethics and a strong commitment by the financial system community to confront and disrupt corruption whenever it arises.

“The effects of corruption are far-reaching. If we do not play our part by working together, and corruption flourishes, then we are to blame for allowing it to exist and adversely affect our financial system, businesses and commerce.

“If we are to have genuine and lasting success in the fight against corruption, we must spread the message that there is no tolerance of corruption,” he added.