MACC: Extension given to Mokhzani because many assets involved

 

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son Mokhzani has been given an extension to declare his assets because it involves a long list.

“Mokhzani requested the extension and MACC agreed to another 30 days.

“The extension is valid based on the investigating officer’s explanation. This is because it involves a lot of assets for investigation and requires additional details to obtain the documents and related accounts,” he told a press conference.

Yesterday, Azam confirmed that Mokhzani (above), like his brother Mirzan, was also given an extension to declare their assets.

The brothers were issued an order under Section 36 of the MACC Act, which required them to declare their assets within 30 days.

The original notice period was supposed to expire sometime in the middle of this month.

43 years’ worth of information

MACC had called up Mirzan and Mokhzani for questioning last month, although the exact nature of the investigation is unclear.

On Feb 6, Azam warned that if the brothers failed to respond within the stipulated time, the pair could face criminal charges.

Following this, the brothers issued a statement asking “for patience and understanding”, saying that collating 43 years’ worth of information is an “impossible endeavour”.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki

Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had denied that the corruption investigations, which also focused on Mahathir’s confidant and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, were not motivated by vengeance.

He also lambasted those who suggested that those advanced in age should not be hauled up.

“So, can old people rob? Old people can rape?” he asked.

Previously, Daim and his wife, Na’imah Abdul Khalid, who has been charged with failing to declare her assets, had accused Anwar of settling old political scores.

The enmity stretches back to 1998 when Mahathir sacked Anwar as the deputy prime minister and slapped him with sodomy charges.

Anwar had maintained that the charges were a political conspiracy authored by Mahathir and those linked to the latter. - Mkini