KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) refuted allegations of Albert Tei’s wife that it confiscated valuable items belonging to the businessman without his knowledge.
The MACC Strategic Communications Division said the list of seized items had been handed to Tei on the day of his arrest on Friday, and he personally signed the document.
It said several items, including mobile phones, an iPad and a digital video recorder were seized as evidence relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The MACC emphasised that Tei voluntarily handed the items over to MACC officers.
A copy of the movable property seizure list, issued under Section 33 of the MACC Act 2009, was also provided to him on Friday.
“We strongly deny the baseless allegation that our officers seized Tei’s belongings without following proper procedures.
“The commission carries out its duties strictly in accordance with the law and within its authorised powers,” the MACC said in a statement yesterday.
Earlier, media reports stated that the lawyer representing Tei’s wife accused the MACC of illegally confiscating her husband’s possessions and demanded that the commission produce a complete inventory of the items within three days, by tomorrow.
Tei’s lawyer, Zaid Malek, said fellow counsel, Mahajoth Singh, was issued several notices by the MACC to appear at its headquarters to assist with the ongoing investigation.
“We went there and handed over a solicitor’s letter stating that Mahajoth, as Tei’s lawyer, cannot comply with the notices.
“We are concerned with matters that are privileged and cannot be disclosed as per Section 126 Evidence Act,” he said.
It was reported that the Prime Minister’s former senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Tei were detained last Friday while Sofia Rini Buyong was detained last Thursday as investigations intensified into allegations that Tei paid bribes to recover funds said to have been distributed to several Sabah assemblymen.
Sofia Rini was remanded and subsequently released yesterday, while Shamsul Iskandar and Tei were remanded until Thursday.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam had previously said the cases carries significant public interest.
“We urge the public to refrain from speculation while the investigations are ongoing,” he added.
