PETALING JAYA: Graft busters have summoned a former minister on suspicion of receiving a RM5mil bribe and a Lamborghini.
Sources said the Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) recorded the former minister’s statement at its headquarters yesterday to assist with the probe.
“Based on information received, the RM5mil allegedly came from a property development company, while the Lamborghini was provided by a billboard firm,” the source said.
Investigators are tracing the luxury vehicle’s ownership to understand the scale of the alleged corruption.
In a related development, preliminary checks revealed that several plots of land initially gazetted for building a surau were transferred to a proxy company, which raises questions about abuse of power in land allocation.
“So far, the MACC has recorded statements from 16 witnesses, including government officials and company owners, to assist in the investigation,” the source added.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that an investigation paper has been opened under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009 over the case.
“At this stage, there is no asset seizure or freezing of accounts,” he said when contacted.
He added authorities are continuing to map the flow of funds and assess links between the individuals and companies involved.
It was reported that a former minister who served in the federal Cabinet before the Covid-19 pandemic was under the MACC’s radar.
Azam had said that an investigation paper involving the individual was opened.
It is understood that the former Cabinet member has previously faced several corruption-related charges in court.
