MACC nabs 3 civil servants, over RM13 mln assets sealed and frozen
KUALA LUMPUR: Three public servants - one of them a ‘ Datuk’ and another a ‘ Datuk Seri’ - were detained yesterday by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Agency ( MACC) for corruption, abuse of power and money laundering.
Its director of Investigations, Datuk Azam Baki said the three, serving in a government department, a local authority and a government-linked company respectively, were arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Kelantan.
The three, in their 50s, were apprehended in a simultaneous operation conducted between noon and 2 pm, he said in a statement.
“Following their arrest, the accounts of the three individuals amounting to more than RM13 million have been frozen, comprising savings accounts and unit trusts worth between RM1 million and RM6 million of each of the three arrested.
“Also sealed were several luxurious condominium units including penthouses, bungalows and posh cars like Maserati, BMW and Audi, believed to be from the proceeds of corruption and money laundering,” said Azam.
He said cash amounting to about RM400,000 and several expensive watches were discovered in the operation. The investigation is being conducted under Sections 17(a) and 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4(1)( b) of the Anti- Money Laundering, AntiTerrorism Financing (AML/ CTF) and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
“The offence under the MACC Act 2009 is punishable with a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher.
“Under the AML/ TCF and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, the convicted offenders can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined not less than five times the value of the illegal proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher,” said Azam.
The MACC will apply for a remand order from the magistrate’s court today on the three individuals arrested. — Bernama