RM27m FOUND
MACC has recovered RM27.4 million of the RM49 million allegedly taken by officers of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation. A 47-year-old ‘Datuk’ has also been arrested in connection with the case.
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THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered a portion of the missing millions in funds believed to have been taken by senior officers of the socalled Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO).
The money was recovered in denominations of ringgit and United States dollar in follow-up operations at several locations. This occurred in the past five days, following the arrests of seven officers and the head of MEIO, Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said RM27.4 million out of the RM49.5 million believed to have been taken by the MEIO senior officers, was recovered.
He said the cash was in the form of RM980,000 and US$6.4 million, and seized from several locations.
“These include a condominium in Cyberjaya, the office of a certain person of interest in the case.
“We are still looking for the remainder of cash amounting to US$5 million of the total of US$12 million, which was believed to have been taken,” he said here, yesterday.
Azam said following the arrests, MACC arrested a 47-yearold “Datuk” in Kelantan at 11pm on Wednesday to facilitate investigations.
“The magistrate’s court has granted us a seven-day remand order against the businessman. He is a Malaysian but has permanent residency in the United Kingdom.”
MACC said it had called in several witnesses, including three from overseas, and were looking for 20 other witnesses.
“We have not ruled out the possibility that other MEIO officers might be arrested to facilitate investigations. We might take two months to complete investigations and hope there will be no movement of monies overseas as this will complicate matters.”
His statement has confirmed an exclusive report by the New Straits Times yesterday on how investigators were hot on the trail of the US$12 million (RM49 million) said to belong to the government, but allegedly found its way to the MEIO’s office.
The NST revealed how the authorities had strong grounds to believe that the money was linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
The money was believed to be for funding the 14th General Election.
It was also said to have been brought into the country all at once via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Azam said the money was brought from another country, adding that he could not reveal the source country.
“I cannot reveal the name of the country. The money was believed to have been brought in between the time just before and after the GE14.”
He said the commission would investigate how the money was brought in, to whom it belonged and whether it had anything to do with the 1MDB scandal.
“We urge those with information on the case, especially the whereabouts of the remainder of the money, to come forward.
“If possible, come to our office and meet our officers. I guarantee that you will be protected as a witness in the case.”
On Hasanah, Azam said MACC would apply for an extension to her remand order once it expired.
Hasanah was arrested by MACC officers at 4.15pm on Tuesday, a day after her deputy at MEIO and six others from the same office were detained to shed light on the missing millions.
She has since been remanded for five days by the magistrate’s court here.
The others were remanded for five days as well.
She was recently embroiled in a controversy surrounding a letter sent to the Central Intelligence Agency, headquartered in Langley, Virginia in the United States, supposedly urging Washington to back Barisan Nasional in the event of a slim victory in the last polls.