MACC finds about RM5mil in foreign currency likely to fund political activities
KUALA LUMPUR: About RM5mil in foreign currency was discovered by graft busters after they raided an apartment, believed to have been used by a politician as his “safehouse”.
This came about after two people, including a former senior executive of Mentri Besar Selangor Incorporated, was detained on Thursday over alleged bribes in connection to a sand-mining concession.
Sources said both suspects were believed to have links to a high-profile politician, who previously had wide influence in Selangor.
“After they were arrested, one of the suspects revealed the existence of a safehouse belonging to an influential politician, being used to store bribe money.
“The raid on the safehouse in Kuala Lumpur was conducted at 10pm on Saturday,” a source said.
According to the source, the apartment unit was rented by a businessman.
“The raiding team discovered S$1,529,000 (RM5mil),” the source said.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic), when contacted, spoke of the possibility of the politician being summoned.
For now, he said he would leave it to those investigating the case to decide whether it is necessary to call him up.
“I leave it to their discretion. They may summon the person if they deem it necessary, based on their findings,” he added.
While the MACC confirmed that the raid took place and that money was found in the apartment, Azam declined to reveal the identity of the politician.
“We need to let investigators probe the case without rumours or speculations affecting their work,” he said.
It is learnt that the money was to be used by the politician for his political activities.
“Investigators believe the money was given by an unknown individual and kept by the businessman based on the instructions of the politician involved,” a source said.
One of those detained on Thursday was remanded for five days while another was ordered released by the court due to health problems.
