Ex-MACC director recalls threats, slander from SRC investigation days

 

Former MACC special operations division director Bahri Mohd Zin, who played a prominent role in the SRC International Sdn Bhd investigations, said the Federal Court’s decision in upholding former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s conviction yesterday proved the judiciary’s independence.

Bahri (above) also recalled how he and his team had been under immense pressure when they were investigating the SRC case as they were slandered, threatened and offered bribes to stop their probe.

“What I can’t forget the most is when the MACC deputy public prosecutor and several special operations division officers were arrested and slandered.

“I felt so alone when my men were mistreated, and I myself was transferred to the Prime Minister’s Department at the time,” said he, as reported by Berita Harian today.

Back in 2015, the MACC’s investigation into the SRC case was disrupted when the police ransacked their office, arrested a number of Bahri’s officers who were part of the investigating team and remanded the commission’s deputy public prosecutor.

Bahri, along with another senior officer, Rohaizad Yaakob, were later transferred out of the MACC and placed in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Bahri later opted for early retirement in 2017, citing his frustration over the SRC case but returned to duty in May 2018 after Pakatan Harapan came into power following the 14th general election.

The Federal Court yesterday decided to uphold the High Court’s conviction of Najib in the SRC case involving RM42 million.

Najib will now have to serve a 12-year jail term and pay a fine of RM210 million. The Pekan MP was yesterday escorted to the Kajang prison after the court delivered the decision.

Bahri said the Federal Court’s verdict shut down those who had previously tried to claim that Najib would be “saved” by the current administration, which is also led by a BN leader.

“Our government is led by a leader from BN who has successfully shut down speculation that there will be government intervention in this case as well as symbolising that our judiciary is truly independent even when it involves high profile and sensitive cases like this.

“I welcome the firmness of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in upholding the conviction in the SRC case,” he said. - Mkini