PARLIAMENT | MACC has cleared an aide to Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub over an allegation that he received a luxury watch as gratification from a developer.
De facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said the 47-year-old political secretary had purchased the watch, which reportedly cost about RM28,000.
"MACC freed him because he was able to explain where he obtained the money to buy the watch," he told the Dewan Negara during the question-and-answer session this morning.
"I was made to understand that the officer had declared his interest in this particular case even before MACC took action.
"So, there is no conflict of interest as claimed by the honourable senator," he added in response to BN senator Ibrahim Shah Abu Shah.
On April 1, MACC detained Salahuddin's aide on suspicion of accepting the luxury watch, but released him four days later. He was investigated under Section 16 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Salahuddin had denied the existence of development projects which led the MACC to probe his aide.
Earlier, Ibrahim said there were complaints on the alleged conflict of interest and interference of the government in the gratification case.
He then cited the acquittal of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and the RM800,000 bribeallegedly received by an aide to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu as examples.
In his reply, Liew said MACC had decided not to continue with the probe into two bribery case involving the ministers' aides.
"These cases haven't been brought to court, they (both cases) are at the investigation stage where they (MACC) decided not to probe," said the Batu Sapi MP.
However, Liew said he does not have the full details of the graft case involving another aide.
It was reported that Mohamad's aide declared bankrupt four years ago, but his debts amounting to over RM800,000 were paid by several parties.
During the question-and-answer session, Warisan senator Theodore Douglas Lind also asked if the government planned to transfer the power of prosecution from the attorney-general to the MACC.
Liew said the government still studying the matter.
"At this stage, the government still scrutinise whether there is a need to give such power to the MACC whose core function is to investigate," he said.
The previous administration had shot down demands from civil society to give MACC the power to prosecute.
Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low explained that this would provide a check and balance in the investigation and prosecution of cases. - Mkini
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