MACC is believed to be investigating another senior army officer over alleged procurement irregularities.
Citing a source, Berita Harian reported that the individual, in his 50s, is expected to give a statement soon regarding allegations of corruption involving army procurement tenders.
"MACC is also detecting the involvement of several other officers, thus showing that there is a wider network of corruption in their procurement," the source told the Malay-language daily yesterday.
According to the report, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed investigations into other senior officers in the armed forces.
"I ask all parties to give the authorities space to conduct a thorough investigation and not to make any speculation that could affect the investigation process," he said.
Although Azam declined to elaborate, he said that an investigation paper had been opened under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which criminalises the act of accepting or attempting to obtain a bribe for themselves or another person.
The punishment, under Section 24(1) of the same Act, is imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of RM10,000, or five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher.
‘Gold bars, car, cash’
Earlier today, Bernama reported that MACC had confiscated gold bars, a high-performance car, and cash in multiple foreign currencies worth an estimated RM6.9 million in its probe over alleged corrupt army procurement tenders.
Last month, Port Dickson Bersatu chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin claimed that a forensic review of documents that he received anonymously showed monthly transactions amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit credited into the accounts of a senior army officer and his family members.
His complaints led to Hafizuddeain Jantan's appointment as the next armed forces chief to be put on hold, despite the appointment having been decided at an Armed Forces Council meeting and receiving royal assent.
On Dec 27, Hafizuddeain was ordered to go on leave to allow an investigation to take place, with probes conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Subsequently, on Dec 29, MACC then froze six bank accounts belonging to him and his family members.
Hafizuddeain and his two wives were detained earlier this week after presenting themselves at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Two days ago, Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court issued a seven-day remand order against Hafizuddeain to assist in ongoing investigations.
‘Parti yeye’
The military is also facing scrutiny in connection with another scandal after allegations surfaced online that its officers were involved in wild parties called “parti yeye”, held within the compound of military bases.
Some social media users also started publishing pictures of such events and urged the authorities to investigate.
Some netizens also claimed that low-ranking officers were forced to provide alcoholic drinks and women from outside the camps for their superiors.
On Jan 8, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Security said it would summon the Defence Ministry and armed forces to explain the scandals. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.