KUALA LUMPUR (April 20): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it has seized two bank accounts belonging to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which were frozen in January in relation to investigation and charges against Bersatu president and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The anti-graft agency said it carried out the seizure after serving an order on 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 Jan 12 and 13 in accordance with Section 44 of AMLATFPUAA 2001 to facilitate investigations into money suspected of being obtained from illegal proceeds.
Consequently, MACC implemented the seizure on April 11, the agency said in a statement on Thursday (April 20), in response to a report in The Edge on Wednesday that Bersatu still had no access to its bank accounts at CIMB Islamic and AmBank even after the 90-day frozen period had expired.
According to Section 44 (5) of AMLATFPUA 2001, the MACC cannot freeze or proceed to seize Bersatu’s assets, as the party and the former prime minister are two different and separate entities in law.
The section stipulates that a freezing order under Subsection 44 (1) shall cease to have effect after 90 days from the date of the order, if the person against whom the order was made has not been charged with an offence under AMLATFPUA 2001.