KUALA LUMPUR: Graftbusters have seized immovable assets worth more than RM18.3mil to assist in investigations into the alleged misappropriation of funds by a non-governmental organisation.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the seizure involved 14 properties, comprising seven residential houses, three office units and four parcels of land located in several areas.
This total value of the seized assets is estimated at RM18.36mil based on current market prices, it said.
It was previously reported that a deputy chairman of an NGO had been remanded over a case on alleged misappropriation of RM230mil in funds.
Both men, aged 57 and 61, have been remanded until tomorrow.
They were among three people arrested by Selangor MACC on Tuesday on suspicion of misappropriating about RM230mil in public funds.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the case involved public donations and not zakat funds.
“The funds did not reach the intended beneficiaries. Instead, some individuals allegedly diverted the money for personal use, including the purchase of luxury assets,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that assets worth about RM4mil believed to belong to a freelance preacher have been seized by MACC.
Sources said the latest seizure carried out by the Negri Sembilan MACC yesterday involved various foreign and local currencies, including 7,325 Saudi riyals (RM7,740), RM152,155 and S$27,134 (RM90,084).
“In addition to the increase in seized foreign and local currencies, various gold items valued at about RM2mil were also seized,” the source said, adding that the total value of seizures from Wednesday and yesterday was about RM4mil.
Initial investigations revealed that two committee members suspected of abetting the preacher were his wife, who serves as the NGO’s treasurer, and another person, who is the organisation’s secretary.
Sources added that funds believed to have been transferred into the preacher’s personal bank account, as well as into eight company accounts under his control, were carried out without the knowledge of the other committee members.
On Wednesday, the freelance preacher was remanded for five days to assist in investigations into alleged abuse of power and misappropriation of approximately RM12.3mil in NGO funds for personal use.
Negri Sembilan MACC director Awgkok Ahmad Taufik Putra Awg Ismail confirmed the matter.
