MACC identifying six witnesses in Kajang sand mining case

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is in the midst of identifying six witnesses in the illegal sand and gravel mining in Kajang.

Sources said the MACC investigation team was identifying five to six people believed to be able to help with the anti-graft agency’s probe into the case.

“They are the main witnesses needed to obtain more evidence and information on the case.”

It was also learnt that MACC was probing into illegal sand and gravel mining in Kajang, worth almost RM1.2 million.

On Nov 29, four people, aged between 34 and 67, were remanded after a mining company was suspected to have bribed local enforcement authorities not to take action against their illegal activities.

Following the arrests, MACC froze RM4 million in several bank accounts belonging to a mining company, which has operated since 2014.

The Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office had, on Nov 30, confirmed that one of the four men arrested for alleged involvement in illegal sand and gravel-mining activities was a nephew of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Photographs of his nephew living a luxurious life went viral on Facebook recently.

However, Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office strategic communications director Yin Shao Loong said posts on social media over the arrest of the nephew were an attempt to smear Azmin.

On Dec 3, it was reported that Azmin had refused to be drawn into the ongoing investigation involving his nephew.

Azmin had said he was in the dark about his nephew’s alleged illegal activities, which led to the latter’s arrest by MACC.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, said MACC must substantiate its claim that the sand-mining company had bribed the Kajang Municipal Council to “close an eye” to the illegal activities.