KUALA LUMPUR: The investigation into the alleged Sabah mining scandal may be reopened if any new information emerges, the Dewan Rakyat heard.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said explained that, unlike civil cases, criminal cases are not subject to any statute of limitations.
"Hence, should there be any new developments in the future, further investigation and review of this case may still be carried out," she said in a parliamentary written reply published on Wednesday (Oct 30).
Azalina was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Perikatan-Kota Bharu), who asked the Prime Minister to state the legal justifications for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) decision to close the case involving the alleged Sabah mining scandal linked to Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.
Azalina explained that the MACC had completed its investigation and referred its findings to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) for review.
"The DPP decided to close the case as the investigation found no offence had been committed. No licence was issued for the 70,000 acres of land in question, and no transfer of ownership took place," she said.
Based on these findings, Azalina said there was no issue or offence under the MACC Act 2009 or any other existing law.
On Sept 9, MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed that the investigation into the Prime Minister’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa, over a mineral exploration case in Sabah, was completed and closed.
He said the decision was made following the deputy public prosecutor’s decision that there were no criminal elements to warrant charges against any party.
