GENTING HIGHLANDS: Not all corruption cases classified as No Further Action (NFA) will be permanently closed.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) operations review panel chairman Datuk Ahmad Rosli Mohd Sham said certain cases could be reassessed and reopened if weaknesses were found in the earlier investigation or if new angles warranted further scrutiny.
He said one of the panel's key functions is to evaluate NFA cases that did not result in prosecution, including identifying areas where investigations could be improved.
"Assessment is made from several angles. First, whether there were any weaknesses in the investigation that need to be addressed," he told the press when met at a journalism workshop organised by the MACC here on Friday (Feb 13).
"If there are shortcomings, the panel will provide advice on how improvements can be made, including probing aspects that may not have been previously considered.
"There are also situations where an investigation may not disclose elements of corruption, but other offences could potentially arise.
"This largely depends on the capability of the investigating officer and the information obtained."
At the same time, Ahmad Rosli said the panel was satisfied with the MACC’s efficiency, particularly in completing investigation papers within the stipulated timeframe.
He said the majority of cases were concluded within the targeted period, and observed the guideline that investigations should not exceed 12 months.
"So far, there are no issues. It is not as if they deliberately delay action or investigations, or shelve cases.
"We have not found anything of that sort. At this point, we are satisfied that they have carried out what they are supposed to do," he said.
Ahmad Rosli stressed that the panel functions as an independent monitoring body to ensure that investigations are conducted in accordance with the law and the powers vested in the commission.
He added that the MACC had been open to feedback and was not defensive when comments were raised by the panel, including recommendations to strengthen the expertise of investigating officers in handling complex financial and corporate cases, such as business transactions and money trail tracking.
"Although the panel does not set specific performance targets for the MACC, we did not find any evidence of deliberate delays, prolonged remand without justification, or cases being discontinued without clear reasons," he said.
