MACC is currently in the process of tracing overseas assets linked to Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd’s director, Abu Sahid Mohamed.
Chief Commissioner Azam Baki said the agency is cooperating with overseas authorities, including the United Kingdom-based agency International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre.
"We are in the process of tracing assets overseas. This is a much larger exercise, and we are cooperating with foreign authorities, especially from the UK, to recover these assets.
"This process involves many stages and must strictly follow mutual legal assistance (MLA) requirements," New Straits Times reported him saying after a visit to Media Prima Berhad's office in Bangsar.
Azam explained that tracing overseas assets was an extensive effort that required close coordination with the Attorney-General's Chambers, and strict compliance adherence under the MLA.
He added that the MACC had already prepared draft documents for submission to the AGC, requesting to formally seek information from foreign authorities.
On Sept 8 last year, Sahid pleaded not guilty to four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) under Section 409 of the Penal Code, involving RM313 million.
He is also facing 13 other charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlatfpua) involving RM139 million related to the MEX II highway concessionaires.
Bersatu leader a witness
Meanwhile, Azam dismissed rumours that Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was a suspect in the MEX II case.
He reiterated that the Bersatu leader was merely a witness, adding he had already provided cooperation by recording his statement with the MACC in December.
"We need Adam to facilitate our investigation by explaining how those funds were distributed to other parties," Azam said.
He mentioned that Adam had returned to Malaysia from the UK in December and that he is free to travel in and out of the country.
Azam also reminded the public that they were still probing about 30 individuals amid ongoing investigations.
He emphasised that his team would continue pursuing both domestic and international efforts to ensure thorough accountability and asset recovery.
Charges linked to the project
On Sept 8, three individuals related to the MEX II highway concessionaires, including Sahid, pleaded not guilty to a total of 35 charges between them.
His wife, Noor Azrina Azmi, was also charged under the same law with receiving RM67 million in funds from illegal proceeds.
Former MEX II director Yap Wee Leong was slapped with 17 charges of forgery under Section 471 of the Penal Code for filing false claims worth RM314.5 million related to the highway project’s progress.
The unfinished MEX II highway project had initially begun its construction process in 2016, and was originally meant to be completed by the end of 2019.
Following these charges, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin ordered a RM1.5 million bail for Sahid and demanded that he surrender his passport.
However, in December, she allowed his application to travel to the UK between Jan 12 and 28 to facilitate his daughter’s enrolment at a university.
The judge also ordered Sahid to return his passport to the court by or on Jan 30.
Subsequent to the verdict, deputy public prosecutor Fadhly Zambry sought the court’s consideration to block Sahid from using his bank accounts in the UK.
However, Sahid’s lawyer, Jasbeer Singh Kaura, objected to Fadhly’s application, saying that such additional conditions are unfair and would make “life difficult” for the accused. - Mkini
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