MACC earlier today received asset declaration documents from former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and his parents, which is needed by the anti-graft agency before they can complete their probe into the politician's RM250,000 missing cash.
Sources close to the probe said that the family had sent the documents to investigators earlier this evening. They had previously requested for extension of time to make the declaration.
"We have received the declarations just now," said a high ranking official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the case's high profile nature.
"The next step now is for investigators to study the documents and verify.
"This would usually take some time to be done," the source added, when asked whether this means that the investigation can be wrapped up soon.
In late March, Syed Saddiq had lodged a police report after losing cash estimated to be around RM250,000 from a safe in his Petaling Jaya home.
News about the incident had since sparked speculation and questions about the source the cash, and led to a report lodged with the MACC. The latter had subsequently launched a probe to determine whether the money was legitimately sourced.
Syed Saddiq had since denied that the money belonged to Bersatu, which he is the chief of its youth wing Armada. He claimed that the cash belonged to his parents and himself.
A MACC source told Malaysiakini that Syed Saddiq's claim was the reason why investigators asked for all three of them to declare their assets as part of the investigation.
It is learned that MACC has interviewed Syed Saddiq during the first phase of the movement control order to facilitate an investigation.
His parents have also had their statements recorded by MACC.
Sources had earlier pointed to Syed Saddiq's Instagram post, which he uploaded yesterday stating about the probe which started about two months ago.
"When he said in his Instagram that the case had been investigated by MACC for the past two months and nothing happened, it was because his parents and himself had yet to make the assets declaration.
"Thus, he should not make any assumption that the delay was on the part of MACC investigators," said the officer, referring to Syed Saddiq's latest Instagram post yesterday.
According to sources, Syed Saddiq had been asked to declare his asset again as the declaration required under Section 36(1) of the MACC Act 2009 for investigation today is not the same as what he had done as a cabinet member.
In the social media post, the politician spoke about attempts to link him with corruption, and that he did not join politics for position and wealth.
Touching about the case of his missing cash, saying that he would not have lodged a police report if the money had originated from corrupt practices.
"If the money was a bribe, why would I report it? Secondly, the money that went missing involved me and my family. We have lodged a police report. The money was meant for house renovation. If it is corrupt money, why would we lodge a report?" he said.
Syed Saddiq then started detailing the amount of salary and allowances that he got during his tenure as a cabinet minister to give a picture of how much he was making then.
As a minister and an MP, he added, he took home RM55,000 a month. Syed Saddiq said he also received a one-time crockery allowance of RM42,000.
"When I lost the job as a minister, I received another one-off payment of about RM150,000.
"So for this case, I surrender the matter fully to MACC to investigate, and I had given full cooperation since the investigation started almost two months ago," he said.
Malaysiakini has reached Syed Saddiq and an aide of his for comments on the assets declaration issue. - Mkini
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