Police still continuing probe in Azam’s case over share-trading issue, says Hamzah

PETALING JAYA: Police are still investigating the case relating to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki over the share-trading issue, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

He said the investigation is still continuing despite the Securities Commission (SC) closing the case.

He was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian that the ongoing investigation was related to a report made at Dang Wangi dated Jan 6, and authorities had opened an inquiry paper.

"So far, the investigation is ongoing.

"In this regard, the ministry does not intend to comment further on this case so as not to interfere with the probe," he said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 3).

Hamzah was responding to a question from Ram Karpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) on whether the investigation against Azam was still ongoing, even though the SC had concluded and closed the case.

On Jan 18 this year, the SC said that it was not able to conclusively establish that a breach under Section 25(4) of the Securities Central Depository Act 1991 (SICDA) had occurred.

Allegations had surfaced that Azam owned a substantial number of shares in two companies between 2015 and 2016 when he was the MACC director of investigations.

On Jan 5, during a press conference, Azam had maintained that he did not commit any wrongdoing and there was no conflict of interest on his part.

He also said that he had explained to the anti-corruption advisory board panel on the matter.

Azam said his trading account was used by his brother, adding that the shares were bought in the open market and were financed by his brother.

Azam said the shares of the companies which his brother had purchased were not involved in any investigation carried out by the MACC, adding that all the shares had been transferred to his brother's own trading account.