‘ARREST NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’
MACC says arrest of Selangor MB’s nephew based on information
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) denied that the arrest of the nephew of Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for alleged graft was politically motivated.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said the arrests of suspects were conducted in a professional manner.
“I would like to stress that the arrests were done professionally and were not based on political affiliation.
“We acted based on information. We immediately conducted an investigation when we received a tip-off. Let us do our job professionally. The suspects have been remanded and investigations are ongoing.
“We will have to wait and see what happens next week,” he said after the Corruption-Free Pledge with the Young Graduates Association here yesterday.
On Thursday, four individuals, including Azmin’s nephew, were remanded for seven days for their alleged involvement in illegal sand and gravel mining in Selangor.
A MACC investigation revealed that a sand-mining company had allegedly bribed local government officers in Kajang, where the company had been operating since 2014.
It was understood the officers were allegedly bribed to not act against the activities.
The four suspects, comprising two company directors, one site manager and an advertising agency employee, will be remanded until Wednesday.
The suspects, aged between 34 and 67, were arrested in a special operation last Wednesday.
Opposition leaders alleged the arrest of Azmin’s nephew was an attack on the Selangor MB and his administration in the run-up to the 14th General Election.
Selangor DAP publicity secretary Ng Suee Lim reportedly claimed that it was one of Azmin’s opponents’ tactics to damage his reputation.
A source said MACC would investigate all parties, including Selangor government officials, to assist its probe into the illegal sand mining case.
He said MACC was likely looking to seize more assets belonging to the four remanded suspects.
In Shah Alam, sources close to the investigation said among the items seized from the 34-yearold suspect were a superbike and a Nissan Murano.
“The assets were seized in an operation on Friday to facilitate investigations into his alleged involvement in illegal mining in Selangor.
“MACC found that the suspect acted as the middleman for the mining company to secure its business,” said a source.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki told the New Sunday Times that investigators were scrutinising evidence and statements recorded from the suspects and witnesses in the case.
“No new arrests have been made. We are still working on statements that were recorded,” he said in a text message.
Azam, however, declined to comment when asked if they were going after local government officers, as investigation had also revealed that law enforcers were paid by the mining company to look away from their illicit activities.
It is learnt that the anti-graft body is also looking at other companies and locations in Selangor, where they believe such activities are ongoing.