Cash, luxury cars seized in probe into Malaysian graft busters

KUALA LUMPUR • Investigators discovered several luxury vehicles and RM50,000 (S$16,000) in cash at a hotel during a probe into three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

The investigation is in connection with the loss of items involving US$6 million (S$8.1 million).

The cash and the vehicles are believed to be owned by one of the three MACC officers, who were detained by graft busters, sources told a Malay daily.

"The vehicles were found at the hotel's carpark area and the MACC is checking documentation to uncover the origin of the vehicles.

"The MACC is also checking whether the RM50,000 cash is part of the US$6 million belonging to the former chief of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation, Hasanah Ab Hamid," sources told Utusan Malaysia.

One of the officers detained also owned a high-powered motorcycle and lived in a luxury home, the sources said.

"All assets and financial records of the three officers are being scrutinised," sources said.

Last Monday, the MACC released a statement saying three of its officers had been detained to assist in investigations into allegations of abuse of power and misconduct in a case involving a "former senior government servant who has been discharged but not acquitted by the court".

The commission said a thorough probe was under way.

In April, Hasanah was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the High Court for criminal breach of trust involving RM50.4 million of government funds.

The case was withdrawn following a new development.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on September 26, 2021, with the headline Cash, luxury cars seized in probe into Malaysian graft busters. Subscribe