BOMBSHELL – MACC SEIZES MILLIONS IN CASH FROM HOME OF BATU CAVES TEMPLE COMMITTEE TOP OFFICIAL: ‘EVEN THE GRAFT-BUSTERS WERE TAKEN ABACK’ AT THE HUGE HAUL, SAYS REPORT

PUTRAJAYA, 19/11/2018. Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is at the office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here today, believed to be assisting in probe into solar panel projects for schools in Sarawak. Pix by Malaymail / Hari Anggara.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized more than RM1 million, foreign currency, numerous luxury watches, expensive cars, gold, jewellery and other valuables after raiding the home of a top office bearer of the Batu Caves Hindu Temple committee.

It is learnt that the amount of money and other seized items was such that even the graft busters were taken aback as they painstakingly counted the wads of cash and itemised each piece of jewellery and other valuables found in the house.

Sources told the New Straits Times that the MACC was still evaluating the worth of all these items, including the ringgit value of the foreign currencies.

It was reported that the raiding team went to the house in Kota Damansara after the temple official, who holds the Tan Sri title, was detained on Monday evening.

The Tan Sri, along with two others, have since been remanded for three days in connection with allegations linked to the development of a parcel of land in Kuala Lumpur that belonged to the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam temple.

Apart from the Tan Sri’s house, MACC officers also raided the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam temple office in Batu Caves in relation to the same case.

Pictures of the raid have since been widely shared on social media. The pictures showed MACC officers counting cash and inspecting jewellery and watches at the official’s home.

The raids were related to a tip-off received last year linked to the development of 4.5-acre plot in Jalan Kuching which was inked in 2014.

The RM250-million project involved a mixed development that included serviced apartments, offices, and retail outlets, and the agreed deal was that the temple would receive 25% of the sum from the developer.

However, several Hindu groups had questioned the plan, saying a trustee of the temple was also involved in the project but the claim was denied by the temple committee chairman.

The plot of land in question is about 2 km from the temple site and was donated by a devotee of the temple over two decades ago.

Over the years it has been leased to used car dealers.

NST