MACC to comb through company accounts as part of RM85m probe

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate various angles of a corruption case relating to an RM85 million project involving an automotive institute, said its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki.

He said the probe would include a forensic inspection into the accounts of the companies involved in the case.

"All those detained (in this case) are still under investigation, and there are many things we need to look at.

"We have to look at the money channelled to the second-layer company ... this requires us to conduct a forensic (investigation into) the accounts of the company (involved),” he said at a press conference after MACC officers' basic training course parade at the Johor MACC Complex here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the development of the case.

Azam said apart from the MACC Act 2009, the case was also being investigated under the Money Laundering Act.

He said that on March 23, a total of 10 individuals - nine men, including one with a "Datuk” title, and a woman - had been arrested in connection with the case.

According to MACC sources, two suspects were believed to have solicited and received bribes of more than RM14.9 million from three more suspects, in return for helping a company obtain grants through three other companies, between 2018 and 2020.