PUTRAJAYA: Some RM11.4mil in cases and assets were seized in connection with an investigation into military procurement involving the former Army Chief.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said several items were seized, including cash, luxury watches, jewellery, gold and a luxury vehicle.
"We freeze 75 company bank accounts, with a total value of RM32.5mil.
"Other items seized were RM4.4mil in cash, RM1.4mil in foreign currencies, 26 luxury watches valued at RM2.3mil, jewellery and gold worth more than RM3.4mil as well as a luxury vehicle estimated at RM360,000," he told a press conference at the MACC headquarters on Thursday (Jan 15).
Azam said the funds and assets were seized
at a residence in Kuala Lumpur and another at a house in Besut, Terengganu.
"My officers had to travel to Terengganu twice to obtain the case items following intelligence gathered," he said.
He added that 23 individuals have been detained so far, with the commission opening 22 investigation papers for predicate offences and one investigation paper under money laundering offences.
"The investigations are being conducted under Section 17(a) and Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001,” he said.
He said that statements had been recorded from 30 individuals during the investigation, which has been ongoing for about two weeks.
He stressed that in corruption and abuse-of-power cases, investigations are not limited to examining the financial transactions highlighted by the complainant.
“In corruption cases, we must also establish evidence on who offered the bribe and other related elements that need to be presented to the public prosecutor,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that former Army chief Jeneral Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan had been freed from remand at about 6.30pm on Monday (Jan 12).
Muhammad Hafizuddeain was earlier detained along with his wives after they presented themselves at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Jan 7 to have their statements recorded in an ongoing probe into a cartel linked to procurement tenders for the Army.
All three were subsequently remanded.
