MACC seizes RM4 mln in connection with infrastructure project in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized RM4 million in connection with a corruption case involving a transportation infrastructure project in Sabah.

The seizure followed the arrest of four people, including a deputy director of a government department on Tuesday, and the opening of deposit boxes belonging to the suspect at several banks.

Sabah MACC director Datuk Sazali Salbi said the MACC was applying for a caveat on some properties suspected to be purchased using money from bribery or abuse of power so that they are not sold or undergo change of ownership during the investigation.

“We have opened another investigation paper under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) to determine whether the money obtained through bribery and abuse of power has been used to buy land, house, shophouse or jewellery.

“We have identified six or seven houses bought under the name of the suspects and their family members in Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Johor, valued at RM2.7 million,” he told reporters after a briefing on development projects in Sabah here, yesterday.

Sazali said the four people arrested and remanded for seven days from Tuesday were in connection with the emergency maintenance and repair of rail transport that was found to be a fake project.

“Six witnesses will be summoned soon for recording of statement. The investigation is still in its early stage. We need more time to scrutinise the documents seized as this case took place between 2012 and 2017.”