MACC's questionable 'established procedures'

 

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki reportedly said the action-packed arrest of businessperson Albert Tei was conducted in accordance with established procedures.

Based on such a riveting statement, we may reasonably assume the raid on Tei’s home, which saw a group of MACC officers in bulletproof vests and balaclavas force their way in and arrest Tei, was part of such established procedures.

It was reported that Tei’s counsel had already fixed a date for MACC to record his statement. It was unclear why such a fixed date was not adhered to.

To rub salt in the wound, Tei was treated by MACC heavy-handedly, as if he were a dangerous and hardcore criminal, or even a terrorist.

Perhaps Azam should explain to all of us that the purported established procedures have been consistently complied with in a just and equitable manner, irrespective of the status of any suspects, and that there has been no favouritism at all.

Almost all mainstream media reported that Tei and Shamsul Iskandar Akin, a former aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, were brought to the court, handcuffed and clad in the orange MACC lock-up attire.

It would be fair and reasonable to assume that the MACC’s playbook also authorises the handcuffing and donning of the orange lock-up outfit of its suspects, and that these were established procedures too.

What of a certain ex-PM?

If that is truly the established procedure, one would be tempted to ask Azam why the entire world never witnessed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak handcuffed and in the MACC lock-up attire when he was brought to court to face charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.

Finally, Azam also told the media that the investigation into the Shamsul-Tei saga was opened immediately due to its public importance.

Impressive. Nonetheless, some concerned citizens believe that the speedy investigation of the case has nothing to do with its public importance.

They may instead believe that it has to do with the prime minister’s statement that the MACC must be allowed to investigate freely and without political interference, even in cases involving individuals linked to him.

Anyway, Tei and Shamsul deserved to be remanded. Nonetheless, in my view, there was no justification at all for MACC to resort to heavy-handed tactics in effecting the arrest. It merely tarnished its image and, by extension, Madani’s reputation too.

It is an open secret that MACC has been haunted by its tainted records in the past, such as the custodial deaths of Teoh Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed in its custody. Hence, it should have been extremely meticulous. - Mkini

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MOHAMED HANIPA MAIDIN is a former deputy law minister.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.