MACC freezes RM217mil linked to corporate figure

 The funds, in 100 bank accounts, are part of a probe into a money laundering case with links to other countries, says MACC chief Azam Baki.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the corruption case involves a Brazilian company and offshore firms controlled by two Malaysian proxies.

PETALING JAYA:

 The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen RM217 million in 100 personal, company and family accounts linked to a corporate figure involved in a money laundering probe.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency has recorded statements from five people, including the corporate figure, and 13 more witnesses would be called.

He said the statements were crucial for MACC’s probe into a corruption case involving a Brazilian company and offshore firms controlled by two Malaysian proxies.

“It involves money laundering from a Brazilian investment contract, channelled through several offshore companies run by the proxies whom we suspect of corruption.

“We need time as this case involves foreign jurisdiction. We’re seeking cooperation from Brazil, Singapore, the Netherlands and others,” Buletin TV3 quoted him as saying.

Azam said MACC had opened two investigation papers to track the transactions from here to the countries of origin.

“One of them is under the MACC Act 2009 for corruption, and the other is under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 for money laundering,” he said. - FMT