Albert Tei’s wife Lee Pei Ree demands MACC issue seizure list, return items

PETALING JAYA: Lee Pei Rie, the wife of detained businessman Albert Tei, has demanded that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission issue a full seizure inventory and return items taken during a raid.

The demand letter is dated Sunday (Nov 30) and was sent by her lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal.

Lee seeks a complete signed list of all items seized during the Friday (Nov 28) operation at their Puchong home.

She also wants the return of belongings the MACC cannot legally justify retaining.

Her lawyers said MACC officers allegedly forced entry, pointed a firearm at Lee, deleted phone contents, and removed a CCTV decoder and other items.

“We are instructed that despite requests made on scene, officers refused or failed to provide any written record of what was seized,” her lawyers said.

“Considering no written record was provided, this action is a theft and not a seizure, a serious breach of statutory duties,” they added.

They said this violates Sections 31 and 34 of the MACC Act 2009 requiring a signed seizure inventory and proper custody of items taken.

Lee is also demanding written clarification on her legal status as witness, suspect or otherwise.

Failing compliance within three days, her lawyers will seek judicial review for the seizure list, the return of property and declarations of illegality.

“Our client also intends to lodge complaints with the MACC Complaints Committee and the EAIC, including over the allegation that an officer pointed a firearm,” they said.

On Friday (Nov 28), Tei was believed to have been detained after masked officers allegedly forced their way into his home.

His lawyer, Zaid Malek, said he arrived to find officers breaking into the house before arresting and handcuffing his client.

Zaid said officers only spoke to him after he photographed the incident and then demanded access to his phone to view the images.

Tei was later escorted out in handcuffs by armed personnel wearing balaclavas.

That night, Lee lodged a police report at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters over her husband’s safety and the conduct of the raiding team.

Earlier, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Shamsul, Tei and Sofia Rini Buyong were detained over alleged bribes to recover funds purportedly distributed to several Sabah assemblymen.