'Arrest of MACC officer nothing to do with Guan Eng's case'

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today denied that the arrest of one of its officers recently had to do with an investigation involving Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

MACC director (investigation) Azam Baki said the officer, in his 30s, was arrested on suspicion of soliciting bribe of RM20,000 as protection money from a police officer who was being investigated by the commission.

“Therefore, I wish to clarify that the allegation he (officer) was arrested for attempting to dispose off evidence in the investigation involving Lim is not true.

“The officer, who works at the Putrajaya MACC, was arrested by MACC in Bangi, Selangor,” he told Bernama in Putrajaya today.

He was commenting an allegation posted on a web blog which said MACC was attempting to dispose of evidence in the investigation on the purchase of a bungalow at below the market price by Lim by arresting the officer, who is from Penang, together with RM50,000, in Putrajaya.

It also claimed that it was informed by a source in MACC that the officer’s arrest also had to do with an investigation on the alleged abuse of government fund, worth more than RM100 million, at the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Azam said the officer was arrested at about noon last April 7 in Bangi and MACC found RM20,000 on him.

The investigation paper is ready and the officer would be charged in court tomorrow, he added.

- Bernama