Another man on MACC wanted list claims persecution

 

Mansoor Saat, who is wanted by the MACC, has finally broken his silence and said he will not return to Malaysia as long as he was “being persecuted”.

He has also threatened to sue the MACC for abuse of power and misfeasance.

In a statement, Mansoor (above) described himself as “collateral damage” because of his business association with Muhammad Adlan Berhan, who is also wanted by the MACC.

Adlan is married to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s second child, Nabilah.

“I believe that there is a political undertone in this entire episode, which is very unfortunate.

“I am a businessperson as well as an advocate and solicitor who has business associations with a lot of other people, and I am surprised that my association with (Adlan) is singled out,” he said.

Mansoor, who is a practising lawyer and whose firm has a registered office in Kuala Lumpur, said the MACC press statement on Aug 8 was an attempt to smear his reputation.

“I state emphatically that I am innocent. I assert my right to fairness and reject any attempt by the MACC to use the media to influence public opinion of me or any other persons as being guilty of some offences and in the process to shore up its flagging reputation or to appease the political dispensation.

“I am saddened that the MACC is being weaponised in such a deplorable fashion.

Harassment

Mansoor said he has been cooperating with the MACC since March and that the commission was fully aware of his current whereabouts.

Sometime in mid-August, he received an urgent request from the MACC investigating officer to return to Malaysia.

“He insisted that I come back during the height of the political campaign for the state elections scheduled for mid-August 2023.

“I have stated that there was unfinished business which required my attention and that I would return in due course,” he said.

Following this, Mansoor claimed that he and his wife’s personal bank accounts were frozen and he was now facing a travel ban.

“I am being harassed relentlessly by the officers of the MACC with threats of vilification and character assassination,” claimed Mansoor.

Share transfer

Meanwhile, Mansoor claimed that when he was providing statements to the MACC, a “senior MACC officer” had persuaded him to transfer his shares in NERS Sdn Bhd to S5 Systems Sdn Bhd.

“It was impressed upon me that if I agree to the transfer, my ordeal will be over. A few days after the investigation, I received a letter drafted by S5 for me to effect the transfer of my shares in NERS to S5.

“It is obvious that what I am going through now is caused by my refusal to transfer the shares,” he said.

Mansoor said he was later told by an MACC investigating officer that he had committed an offence by authorising the receipt of money in the company’s operation account instead of its project account.

“I maintain that there is no offence committed as the transactions were lawfully made and I did not personally benefit.

“That the MACC deemed it to be against the law is something beyond my comprehension,” he said.

Mansoor said that decisions involving the NER accounts were necessary due to the impact of Covid-19 in order for the company to meet obligations to creditors.

“I vehemently deny any suggestions that there was embezzlement of funds from the company.

“I earnestly believe the MACC has no jurisdiction over the transactions involving the company as there is no element of either abuse of power or bribery. It is simply a matter of normal commercial transaction,” he said.

In 2011, NERS Sdn Bhd was awarded a 12-year contract to monitor the immigration of foreigners to Malaysia as well as to issue the Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) (PLKS).

The government is obliged to pay NERS RM50 for each PLKS issued. - Mkini