Lawyer: MACC officers did not enter Musa Aman's house

- Bernama

KOTA KINABALU: Graft investigators were unable to enter Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman's residence in Luyang as neither owner nor occupant were present, said his lawyer.

As such, Musa's lawyer Zahir Shah said that no files were taken during the raid by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers at his home in Sri Anggerik.

“I can confirm that they had a warrant, but they could not enter as the owner and occupant were not in,” Zahir told The Star on Friday.

He said that he was present at the gates of Musa's house when the MACC team turned up on Wednesday (May 23).

Zahir said that he also checked with an MACC investigating officer who confirmed that they did not enter the premises.

“They could not enter and we (MACC officers) left the house at the same time,” he added.

It is still unclear whether the investigations were part of a probe into alleged corrupt practices after the May 9 general election left Barisan Nasional and Parti Warisan Sabah tied with 29 seats each in the 60-member state assembly.

Sabah STAR, led by Tambunan assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, became kingmaker with the party winning two seats.

It declared its support for Barisan, paving the way for Musa to be sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10.

However, Musa lost his majority after six assemblymen from Barisan component Parti Upko and Sabah Umno left to support Warisan and its partners DAP and PKR under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was then sworn in as Chief Ninister on May 12.

The MACC is reportedly checking on claims that RM20mil was used to gain support for Barisan to form the state government.

MACC officers earlier this week seized some RM80,000 in cash and a bank card during a raid at a Dr Jeffrey's Keningau house and offices here.

They also recorded statements by Dr Jeffrey and his party officials.

Dr Jeffrey told reporters that it was politically motivated and asked MACC to also investigate the assemblymen from Barisan who crossed over to Warisan.