MACC seeks cross-border help in RM1.1bil investment probe

 Chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman says the agency contacted the AGC for assistance because the investigation involves persons in Taiwan and the UK.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman said the agency had recorded statements from 26 people, including former economy minister Rafizi Ramli and his ex-aide, James Chai. (MACC pic)

SHAH ALAM:

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is seeking mutual legal assistance to obtain statements from several people in Taiwan and the UK to assist its investigation into a RM1.1 billion investment.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman said the agency contacted the Attorney-General’s Chambers for assistance in the matter.

He said the process was necessary to legally obtain statements and information from the persons involved.

“This investigation may take some time since it involves two other jurisdictions. We need to go through regulations, international laws and so on,” he told Bernama after a working visit to the Selangor MACC office here today.

It was his first working visit to the office since becoming MACC chief on May 13.

Halim said MACC had recorded statements from 26 people, including former economy minister Rafizi Ramli and his former aide, James Chai.

He said documentation and analysis of evidence related to the case were ongoing, including documents submitted by Rafizi.

“We will take them into consideration as he submitted them voluntarily. We will review them,” he said.

MACC opened an investigation paper into the case on Feb 16 following complaints from several NGOs, which alleged that the strategic cooperation agreement in the semiconductor industry between the economy ministry and UK company Arm Limited was concluded hastily and in a biased manner, potentially causing financial losses to the government. - FMT