KUALA LUMPUR: More than RM6bil worth of funds and assets have been seized, frozen and forfeited through operations conducted by graft busters so far this year.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the action was taken under various laws, including the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla), as of Nov 30.
“A total of RM6.25bil was seized under Amla, while RM566.77mil was seized under the MACC Act 2009. Some RM36.13mil was frozen under Amla.
“Asset forfeiture amounted to RM7.14mil under the MACC Act 2009 and RM350,000 under other laws, while compounds issued reached RM49.5mil,” it said in a statement yesterday.
In addition, asset recovery through other legal mechanisms reached RM1.48bil.
“We opened 966 investigation papers this year, resulting in 1,128 individuals detained.
“A total of 445 individuals have been charged, of which 189 of them were convicted,” MACC added.
Of those arrested, 423 were civil servants, 504 were from the private sector, 163 were members of the public, 34 were from government-linked companies (GLCs) and four were politicians.
On another matter, a former minister who served in the government Cabinet before the Covid-19 period is now on the radar of the MACC.
The matter was confirmed by MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who said that a new investigation paper has been opened involving the individual.
“Yes, I confirm that investigations are underway and several important individuals will be called to assist in the investigation,” he said briefly, Bernama reported.
It is understood that the former leader has previously been charged in court on several corruption-related charges.
It is believed that “fresh intelligence” had surfaced, prompting investigators to look into the matter.
“My officers immediately launched a probe after receiving new information,” Azam added.
It was reported that MACC had initiated an investigation into a former minister over alleged corruption and power abuse after new information surfaced, almost 10 years after its initial probe.
It is said that the investigation zooms on approvals for projects in a Federal Territory.
It is learnt that officers are also looking into allegations of embezzlement involving the transfer of a high-value piece of government land to a prominent property developer.
