KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-graft agency has seized assets totalling RM143mil linked to the misuse of sukuk funds for the construction of a highway in Klang Valley believed to be owned by a Tan Sri highway concessionaire during an operation last week.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that preliminary investigations have revealed misconduct occurring between 2016 and 2020.
During this period, approximately RM1.35bil in sukuk funds was approved, which involved false claims amounting to roughly RM360mil and RM416mil, along with RM50mil in other bank facility loans.
“The RM1.67bil highway project failed to be completed according to schedule. Investigations are also focused on bribes worth RM12mil allegedly paid to certain parties as inducement in helping the cash flow out and back to the suspect,” he said in a statement.
Azam detailed the seizures, which include 14 individual accounts amounting to RM4.5mil; eight company accounts totalling RM33mil; a luxury condominium and land valued at RM24.5mil; nine cars worth RM7.65mil; and 13 cars that have yet to be surrendered to the investigation team.
Other seized items comprise luxury watches valued at RM25mil, handbags worth RM3mil, jewellery and diamonds appraised at RM6mil, four horses valued at RM400,000, alcoholic beverages estimated at RM3mil, foreign assets exceeding RM15mil, and about RM20mil linked to gambling activities.
To embezzle the funds, the parties involved were believed to have used professionals, such as auditors, financial experts, engineers and shell companies.
“The MACC has yet to take the Tan Sri’s statement, as he has been warded in a private hospital,” Azam said, Bernama reported.
Azam said asset declaration notices have been handed to the Tan Sri and other related parties.
