Graft busters also found jewellery worth around RM225,000 in home raid
PETALING JAYA: Luxury assets, including 23 Rolex watches worth about RM2.2mil, have been seized by graft busters following a raid at the residence of the second wife of a former Army chief in an East Coast state.
The search yesterday, according to sources, uncovered two suitcases thought to have served as storage for the items.
“Initial inspections found 23 Rolex watches of various models, with an estimated current market value of about RM2mil,” the source said.
The source added that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also seized several pieces of jewellery belonging to an individual believed to be an accomplice, estimated to be worth around RM225,000.
Meanwhile, MACC senior director of investigation Datuk Zainul Darus confirmed the seizure when contacted.
It was previously reported that former Army Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his two wives were remanded in connection with investigations into a cartel linked to procurement tenders for the army.
The top military officer was remanded for seven days, while one of his wives was remanded for six days and the other for three days.
The trio were detained by the MACC on Jan 7 after presenting themselves at the MACC headquarters here to give statements in the ongoing probe involving military contract tenders.
An additional couple was also arrested earlier in the day for the same probe and has been remanded for seven days.
On Jan 9, gold bars, a high-performance sports utility vehicle and cash in various foreign currencies totalling about RM6.9mil were seized following investigations into the cartel allegedly involved in the army procurement project.
The seized cash consisted of US dollars, euros, British pounds, Japanese yen and Saudi riyals.
The raid, according to sources, resulted from checks on the vehicle, which was awaiting repair at a workshop in the Klang Valley.
“The jewellery that was seized were three units of 999 gold bars, with each weighing 1kg and currently estimated to be worth around RM1.8mil. Also seized were nine gold pieces, weighing 100g each and worth over RM500,000.
“This is on top of the vehicle, which is estimated to be worth around RM360,000 and believed to be bought with cash,” sources said.
On Jan 6, the MACC secured a five-day remand order for 17 company directors suspected of operating a cartel to fix tenders for army procurements.
The suspects, comprising nine men and eight women aged from 20 to 60, were detained on Monday after giving statements at the MACC headquarters.
On Dec 23 last year, the MACC’s investigation extended to the Defence Ministry, reviewing projects awarded through open tenders and managed by the Army Responsibility Centre.
