Millions seized from home of Batu Caves temple committee top official
MACC evaluating foreign currencies, valuables found in Batu Caves temple official’s house
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) seized more than RM1 million, foreign currencies, numerous luxury watches, expensive cars, gold, jewellery and other valuables when it raided the house of a top office-bearer of the Batu Caves temple committee.
It is learnt that the amount of money and other seized items was such that even the graftbusters were taken aback as they painstakingly counted the wads of cash and pieces of jewellery and valuables found in the house.
Sources told the New Straits Times that MACC was evaluating the value of the items, including the ringgit value of the foreign currencies.
It was reported that the raiding team went to the house in Kota Damansara after the temple’s top official, who holds the “Tan Sri” title, was detained on Monday evening.
The Tan Sri, along with two others, have been remanded for three days in connection with allegations linked to the development of a parcel of land in Kuala Lumpur that belonged to the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam.
Apart from the Tan Sri’s house, MACC officers raided the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam office in Batu Caves in relation to the case.
Pictures of the raid, which went viral, showed MACC officers counting cash, and inspecting jewellery and watches at the official’s home.
The raids followed a tip-off last year linked to the development project of a 1.8ha plot in Jalan Kuching that was inked in 2014.
The RM250-million project involved a mixed development that included serviced apartments, offices and retail outlets.
According to the deal, the temple would receive 25 per cent of the proceeds from the developer.
However, several Hindu groups questioned the plan, saying a trustee of the temple was involved in the project. It was denied by the temple committee chairman.
The plot of land in question is about 2km from the temple site and was donated by a devotee more than two decades ago.
Over the years, it had been leased to used-car dealers.