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KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated a seizure against two bank accounts belonging to Bersatu under anti-money laundering laws.
The anti-graft agency said the seizure was initiated after an order was submitted to the banks in accordance with Section 50 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).
“Previously, these accounts were frozen on January 12 and 13 in accordance with Section 44 of AMLATFPUAA 2001 to assist investigations into money suspected of being obtained from illegal proceeds.
“Consequently, MACC implemented the seizure on April 11 in relation to the investigation and charges against Bersatu president Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin under the MACC Act 2009 and AMLATFPUAA 2001,” it said in a statement.
MACC was responding to a news report in The Edge’s CEO Morning Brief today titled “Bersatu asks MACC why two accounts still frozen after 90 days.”
On March 8, Bersatu filed for a judicial review to challenge MACC’s decision to freeze its bank accounts for investigation purposes, claiming it was done in bad faith.
It also claimed that the commission had abused its powers by conducting selective political prosecution against the leadership of Bersatu, Perikatan Nasional, or Muhyiddin.
Prior to that, MACC arrested Bersatu treasurer Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri for matters relating to the use of party funds, but he was released two days later.
In February, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Bersatu’s accounts had been frozen for investigations under the MACC Act 2009 and AMLATFPUAA 2001.
The freezing of Bersatu’s accounts followed the arrest in January of a chief executive of a private company who was suspected of acting as a middleman in the distribution of projects under Covid-19 stimulus packages from 2020 to 2022.
MACC has also been probing into allegations that RM92.5 billion in economic stimulus funds were misappropriated when Muhyiddin was prime minister.
Muhyiddin had also denied another allegation that he was involved in awarding a contract for the National Integrated Immigration System to Iris Corporation Bhd, a company linked to his son-in-law, while he was prime minister. – The Vibes, April 20, 2023
