Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(June 26): A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer has left for Melbourne as part of the agency's probe into Majlis Amanah Raya's (Mara) overpriced purchase of an apartment block in the Australian city.

MACC investigation director Datuk Mohd Jamidan said investigations had started in line with the MACC Act 2009.

"MACC has also sent an officer to Melbourne to obtain documents and information that can help with the investigation," he said in a statement today.

He said MACC had summoned several individuals related to the purchase, and intended to haul up more people.

He also urged anyone with information and evidence related to the property buy to come forward and help the agency in its investigation.

At around 12pm today, Mara chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa was seen entering the MACC headquarters with a file in hand.

Later, Annuar told reporters that he had not been summoned by the MACC, but had come to the agency of his own accord to provide information.

"Mara has decided to give its full cooperation. We have a few documents and want to hand them over as soon as possible to the MACC to facilitate their investigation," he said outside the MACC headquarters.

Mara's controversial property buy was highlighted this week by Australian newspaper The Age which reported that a “top” Mara officer, senior official and former politician had allegedly spent millions of government funds to buy an apartment block in Melbourne in a property scam.

The report alleged that “a group of super-rich Malaysian officials” overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) for an apartment block in the city in 2013.

The trio had allegedly “overbid” for the building, called Dudley International House, from A$17.8 million to A$22.5 million, with the difference pocketed as bribes back home.

Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that Australian authorities launched several raids in Melbourne following The Age's expose.

In Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said that the claims by The Age will be thoroughly investigated.

The Age said that Australian developers of the property received sham invoices for fake services, such as “consultancy and advisory”, from Malaysian firms.

Tradesman John Bond, an Australian creditor facing bankruptcy after the deal collapsed, told The Age: "This deal has ripped off Australians and involves serious corruption but no one has been held to account." – The Malaysian Insider

 

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