MACC TO PROBE CID CHIEF
Report lodged by whistleblower warrants further investigation, says deputy commissioner
IN a sudden turn of events, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated an investigation on Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd over a large sum of money he deposited into an Australian bank account opened under his name.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said the probe was initiated after a whistleblower, who provided proof, lodged a report against the senior police officer on Monday.
“Based on the report, leads, evidence, and allegations against the police officer, it is our responsibility to investigate the claims.
“We have to investigate even though he may have been cleared through an internal investigation conducted by the police,” he said yesterday.
On Sunday, Azam was quoted as saying that MACC would initiate an investigation if a report was lodged against Wan Ahmad with evidence of wrongdoing.
It was reported that the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the Australian Federal Police had frozen the A$320,000 (RM975,792), which was transferred without compliance to Australian laws into Wan Ahmad’s Australian Commonwealth Bank account in 2016.
However, on Friday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Bukit Aman was made aware of the account, and its Integrity and Standard Compliance Department had conducted an internal inquiry and had cleared Wan Ahmad of any wrongdoing.
He said Wan Ahmad was able to provide documents to prove that the funds originated from the sale of his house in Shah Alam, which was worth RM700,000.
Azam said MACC respected the internal investigations by the police. However, the report lodged by the whistleblower and information provided warranted further investigation.
He said MACC needed time to investigate the case as it happened two years ago and involved another country.
“We need time to investigate the claims as investigating officers need to liaise with a lot of parties to uncover the truth.”