MACC freezes 10 more bank accounts

BALING: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) has frozen another 10 bank accounts linked to an alleged graft and power abuse case involving a Perlis Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director.

Kedah MACC director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Ahmad said the 10 bank accounts worth RM7.7 million brought the number of accounts frozen in connection with the case to 27, valued at a total of RM11.7 million.

“The bank accounts belonged to the director and two businessmen, who were earlier arrested for allegedly abetting him,” he said after launching “Gerakan Memerangi Rasuah 2018” (Gempur 2018) here yesterday.

Fauzi said the state MACC had recorded statements from 25 individuals to help the agency probe further into the case.

He said the agency was gathering evidence and would hand over the investigation paper to its prosecution team soon.

The director was released on MACC bail on Sunday while the businessmen, aged 39 and 50, were released on bail on Feb 5.

It was reported that the director was arrested along with the two businessmen — one of whom is believed to be his son — on Jan 29 by Kedah MACC following a tip-off on discrepancies in the awarding of projects by the state DID.

MACC sources revealed that the man had been pocketing 10 per cent of each project’s cost between 2014 and last year. The two businessmen, meanwhile, are being probed for allegedly abetting the director in committing the offences. The MACC has frozen 17 bank accounts belonging to the director, his children and the two businessmen, amounting to a total of RM4 million.

Also seized were RM900,000 at one of the businessmen’s houses, and an RM18,000 motorcycle belonging to the director.

The MACC is probing the case under Section 17(a) and Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009; and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.