Australian cops launch raids over alleged Mara property scam
KUALA LUMPUR: Australian police reportedly seized computers and files yesterday from a home in Vermont South, Melbourne, over allegations of a property scam in Melbourne involving senior officers of Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Mara.
The Age news portal, www.theage.com. au, reported that the raid on the home and several other properties across Melbourne under 'Operation Carambola' was launched in response to an investigation by Fairfax Media into a scheme involving Malaysians using multimillion-dollar Australian properties to launder funds and return "kickbacks" to Asia.
Mara chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa had said yesterday that Mara had conducted an internal audit and assisted the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission in its investigation into Mara Incorporated in connection with allegations of fraud on the property purchase in Melbourne involving its senior officers.
He said that prior to the news report, the audit process and MACC investigation which began several weeks ago, were still in progress.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has warned of legal action against anyone found to have cheated or deceived any Economic Council board members with inaccurate or incomplete particulars on the Australian property deal.
The Age had reported that a top Mara officer, senior official and former politician had allegedly spent millions in government funds to buy an apartment block in Melbourne in a property scam.
The Australian newspaper alleged that "a group of super-rich Malaysian officials" overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) for an apartment block in the city in 2013.
The trio had allegedly "overbid" for the building, called Dudley International House, from A$17.8 million to A$22.5 million (RM65.3 million), with the difference pocketed as bribes back home.
Dudley International House is a student hostel, bought by Mara which provides scholarships to Malaysians studying overseas.