MACC releases Selangor MB’s nephew after 10 days

PUTRAJAYA: The nephew of Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has been released from Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) custody after being probed for 10 days over alleged involvement in illegal sand mining.

Magistrate Aida Khairuleen Azli allowed the 34-year-old nephew and a 67-year-old company director to be released on RM100,000 bail with one surety each.

The two were arrested by MACC officers on Nov 29 together with two others – a 41-year-old company director and a 45-year-old site manager.

The magistrate’s court allowed a remand term of seven days, which expired on Wednesday and extended it for another three days for the nephew and the 67-year-old.

The two others were released on bail.

The arrests were made following a public tip-off on illegal mining activities in Selangor.

MACC officers first raided a company in Sungai Long, and were then not aware of the alleged involvement of Azmin’s nephew, until the other suspects were questioned.

The nephew, who was said to run an advertising firm, was then picked up at his house in Kuala Lumpur.

Several lorries and bank accounts with cash amounting to RM4mil were seized as part of the investigation.

The Selangor government is understood to have lost millions of ringgit in revenue due to the illegal sand mining.

Those involved were said to have raked in huge profits from the illegal activity since 2014.

The nephew allegedly acted as a middleman to help contractors secure projects from the Selangor government.

MACC are also looking into how far the nephew had been using his uncle’s name for personal gain.

The Selangor government in a statement claimed that there was a conspiracy to tarnish its reputation and that of the Mentri Besar.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, however, said there was no political motive, and affirmed that the commission had basis to investigate the issue.