MACC uncovers high-profile cases, recovers assets worth over RM8.4bil as of Nov 30

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has conducted a series of high-profile investigations this year, including one involving a former prime minister, as well as cases involving enforcement officers and banking institutions, with asset recoveries, seizures and forfeitures exceeding RM8.4bil as of Nov 30.

In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 23), the MACC said one of the major cases this year involved Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, following the seizure of various currencies worth over RM169mil, along with 16kg of gold bars and cash from a safe house in connection with corruption and money laundering probes.

“On Oct 1, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court approved the forfeiture of the seized money after no party came forward to claim it,” the statement said.

The agency also conducted Ops Rentas on Sept 10 to tackle corruption and abuse of power among enforcement officers believed to be involved in counter-setting activities at the country’s international entry points.

A total of 27 people, including 18 enforcement officers, were arrested following operations in Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Selangor, with 57 bank accounts worth approximately RM2.7mil frozen.

In Ops Tiger, 49 individuals, including current and former officers of several banking institutions, were charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court from Nov 7 to 26 for allegedly accepting bribes to facilitate housing loan approvals.

The MACC also uncovered a scrap metal smuggling syndicate through Ops Metal, conducted on July 14 across five states, resulting in estimated export tax losses of more than RM950mil.

The operation was conducted by the MACC Special Operations Division through the Multi-Agency Task Force, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia, at 18 locations, leading to the seizure of assets worth over RM183mil.

In Ops Karen on Sept 2, the MACC seized five vessels and 4.21 million litres of diesel in Beluran and Esscom waters, Sabah, with total assets valued at RM32.07mil, in addition to freezing bank accounts worth RM25mil.

In another operation, Ops Grip, carried out on Sept 29, targeted a syndicate involved in tyre smuggling and the forgery of import and export documents, resulting in the seizure of 17,672 tyres, six warehouses, and the freezing of accounts worth approximately RM70mil.

The MACC also launched Ops Kembali after a viral video involving a woman known as Sofia Rini Buyong and businessman Albert Tei surfaced, over alleged bribery linked to the former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

The three individuals were detained between Nov 27 and 28, before Albert Tei and Shamsul Iskandar were charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Dec 4.

Under Ops Sky, 16 individuals, including current and former officers of banking institutions, were charged, approximately 4,000 documents were seized, and 98 bank accounts valued at RM17.4mil were frozen.

According to statistics, the MACC recorded seizures amounting to RM566.77mil under the MACC Act 2009 and RM6.26bil under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, in addition to freezing assets worth RM36.14mil as of Nov 30.

During the same period, the MACC received 6,114 pieces of information, opened 966 investigation papers, arrested 1,128 individuals, filed 445 charges and recorded 189 convictions, the statement said. – Bernama