DAP reps: We believe IGP, but CID chief must come clean

Several DAP representatives have urged Bukit Aman CID director Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd to come clean on his frozen bank account in Sydney, Australia.

They said they took in good faith inspector-general Mohamad Fuzi Harun’s explanation on the matter as the truth, but Wan Ahmad’s failure to explain the matter himself would tarnish his reputation and that of the police force.

Making reference to allegations made against Wan Ahmad in the Australian media, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said: “I don’t know, and I don’t believe it because the IGP said these transactions were all above board.

“Strangely, Wan Ahmad himself does not come forward to make an announcement after the media published the story.”

Lim added at a press conference outside the police headquarters in Bukit Aman today: “In my letter, I also told Wan Ahmad to disclose the identity of (his intermediary), and if possible, to ask him to come forward with an explanation.

“This is not only for his own good but also for the good image of the police.”

Lim was accompanied by Shah Alam councillor Muhammad Ameer Shakir and Ipoh Timur MP Thomas Su who also urged Wan Ahmad to explain himself to protect his and the police force’s integrity.

Su said people could not accept the IGP’s explanation because they could not understand why Wan Ahmad refused to claim his own money.

The Sydney Morning Herald had reported on March 2 that Australian federal police had frozen over A$320,000 (RM971,800) in Wan Ahmad’s Aussie bank account.

They alleged the account contained either laundered money or proceeds from crime. The New South Wales Supreme Court granted a forfeiture order last year.

Denied wrongdoing

Wan Ahmad (below, centre) reportedly opened the bank account in his own name in 2011, and it began to receive deposits one week after his trip to Australia in September 2016.

Unknown sources reportedly made a series of small deposits into the account from five states in Australia, increasing the account balance by A$290,000 (RM880,700) within a month.

Fifty-four of these deposits were below the A$10,000 (RM30,368) threshold, above which Australian law enforcement agencies would receive mandatory notifications.

Wan Ahmad has denied wrongdoing but said he could not afford the legal expense for reclaiming his money. It was also reported that the money was intended to fund his son’s aviation studies in Australia.

Fuzi said Bukit Aman had been aware of the matter since 2016 and an internal investigation had concluded that the money in the account was from the proceeds of the sale of Wan Ahmad’s house.

However, others have questioned Wan Ahmad’s rationale for not reclaiming his own money.

Veteran investigative journalist and Malaysiakinicolumnist R Nadeswaran pointed out that the Australian legal system allows for “no win, no fee” arrangements and knows a lawyer in Melbourne who is willing to assist.

Meanwhile, in his letter, Lim urged Wan Ahmad to explain the unusual manner in which the deposits were made into his account and whether this was standard practice amongst Malaysian police officers.

He also asked Wan Ahmad to explain how he had continued funding his son’s studies after the account was frozen. -Mkini