(June 30): Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today police would wait for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to alert them if there were elements of criminal breach of trust (CBT) in the Majlis Amanah Rakyat's (Mara) Melbourne property purchase.

The inspector-general of police, however, reiterated that, at the moment, police did not consider the case as CBT.

"I never say that there was no investigation (being done). I said, at the moment, we do not see any element of CBT in the case," he said.

DAP yesterday slammed Khalid for clearing Mara of CBT and questioned if the force were trying to protect someone.

Its national publicity chief, Tony Pua, reportedly said the IGP had been "double quick" in dismissing any criminal investigations against Mara officials and had passed the buck completely to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Khalid today said he would leave it to MACC to conduct the investigations as the anti-graft body had already started its probe into the case since March.

"I am sure if there are elements of CBT, MACC will let us know," he said after the closing of an anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling seminar in Kuala Lumpur today.

Khalid yesterday said he was leaving investigations into the Mara's property purchase in Australia to the MACC, since police found no element of criminal breach of trust.

He said MACC was able to handle the investigations for the moment.

In its expose of the overpriced purchase by Mara of an apartment block in Melbourne, Australian daily The Age reported that “a group of super-rich Malaysian officials” overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) for the property in 2013.

The trio had allegedly “overbid” for Dudley International House, from A$17.8 million to A$22.5 million (RM65.3 million), with the difference pocketed as bribes back home.

MACC said last week several people had been called up for questioning and that investigation was ongoing.

Its deputy commissioner of operations, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, said the anti-graft body received information on the matter some time in March and proceeded with profiling the individuals involved in the alleged irregularities.

Following that, he said Australian police had paid a visit to MACC's office in May where both parties exchanged information and started the probe.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR), in a statement two days ago, called on all parties, including politicians, not to prejudge investigations into the matter.

The independent body, which is an advisory body to the MACC, said the anti-graft investigators should be given room to conduct a full and thorough probe. It also urged all parties to be patient, and refrain from making statements on the issue. – The Malaysian Insider