Sabah MACC detains 19 contractors for submitting fake documents

- NST, March 5, 2022 @ 4:22pm

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
has arrested 19 contractors for submitting false bank statements worth
RM49 million to the state Education Department.

The suspects, aged between 24 and 53, were arrested at the MACC's
office here at about 10am today.

The fake bank statements were submitted as an incentive to acquire

tenders for several schools throughout Sabah.

Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrest and said
the case was being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009
and Section 471 of the Penal Code.

He added that all the suspects, 10 men and nine women, would be
charged in the Special Corruption Court in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah soon.

In 2020, Sabah MACC arrested 39 contractors believed to have employed

the same modus operandi, involving a contract value amounting to more
than RM80 million.

Following the arrests, 132 charges were brought to the Special Corruption
Court in Sabah last year.
 Government withdraws
application to forfeit almost
RM16 million of Abdul Azeez's
family assets. - NST, March 4, 2022 @
1:42pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has withdrawn its application to forfeit almost RM16 million from accounts belonging
to the wife of former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Datin Seri Khadijah Mohd Noor and
their four children, as well as a shop lot owned by their company, Azeera Management Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd.

Deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim told the High Court here today that the decision to withdraw the application
was made by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) following another letter of representation submitted by the
respondents (Abdul Azeez's family).

"There was another letter (of representation) from the respondents dated Feb 15, 2022, to which the AGC agreed to
withdraw the application to forfeit the assets.

"As such, the release (of assets) order will be made by the prosecution," he said.

Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin then cancelled the application and vacated the hearing date set for June 21.
 Government withdraws
application to forfeit almost
RM16 million of Abdul Azeez's
family assets. - NST, March 4, 2022 @
1:42pm
On Feb 8, Nik Haslinie told the court that the AGC had, on Feb 4, rejected a representation submitted by Abdul Azeez
family members against the government's application to forfeit their assets, involving cash and property allegedly obtained
through unlawful activities.

In the forfeiture suit filed in September 2019, the government is applying to forfeit almost RM16 million from the accounts
belonging to Khadijah and the four children – Mohamed Khairul Anwar, Mohamed Khairul Azman, Khaleeda Azwa,
Khaleeda Azeera – also a shop lot in Bandar Sunway, which is owned by their company.

On Dec 18, last year, the court dismissed the family's application to stay the forfeiture proceeding pending the disposal of
Abdul Azeez's ongoing corruption case at the Sessions Court.

Abdul Azeez is currently on trial for three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 million in connection with road
projects in Perak and Kedah and 10 counts of money laundering involving a total of RM13.9 million which he allegedly
received from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

However, the trial has been postponed pending his appeal at the Court of Appeal to have the case against him struck out.
– BERNAMA
Police waiting for 'green light' from Singapore over investigation into
Zeti's husband. NST, March 4, 2022 @ 3:26pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Police is awaiting "green light" from Singaporean
authorities to complete its investigation into Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman's
case.

Tawfiq, who is the husband of former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti
Akhtar Aziz, is being investigated for allegedly receiving funds linked to
the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in his bank account in
Singapore.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk

Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said the police received instructions from the
Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to obtain documents and record
statements from witnesses from the republic to facilitate investigations.

"Since last year, we have submitted to the AGC the investigation papers
several times.

"However, the investigation papers were returned to us since we needed

to obtain documents related to the case as well as record statements from
witnesses in Singapore," he told reporters today.The police, said
Kamarudin, is now waiting for permission from the authorities in
Singapore over the matter.
Police waiting for 'green light' from Singapore over investigation into
Zeti's husband. NST, March 4, 2022 @ 3:26pm
"We have reached out to Singapore on a number of occasions but we
have yet to receive the green light since we need to get the documents
and record statements from the witness (to complete the investigation
papers).

"We cannot go there (to obtain the documents and record witness'
statements) without permission or assistance from them (Singapore)," he
said.

Kamarudin said the police needed to record statements from financial

institutions where the transactions were made.

In March last year, police had confirmed that investigation against Tawfiq
for allegedly receiving funds linked to 1MDB was still on-going.

The then Federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department

director Datuk Zainuddin Yaacob had said in a statement that Tawfiq was
being investigated under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering
and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

The Edge Weekly had reported that the Commercial Affairs Department
(CAD) of the Singapore Police
Police waiting for 'green light' from Singapore over investigation into
Zeti's husband. NST, March 4, 2022 @ 3:26pm
Force had informed BNM of suspicious transactions involving a UBS bank
account belonging to Iron Rhapsody Ltd.

The report said Iron Rhapsody — whose beneficial owners are Tawfiq and
another person, according to CAD — had received US$16.22 million
(approximately RM65.71 million) from companies/bank accounts of
fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, a central figure in the
1MDB scandal, in five separate transactions.
Sabah MACC detains 19 contractors over submission of falsified bank
statements. – The Edge Market, March 05, 2022 17:13 pm +08
KOTA KINABALU (March 5): The Sabah office of the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Saturday (March 5)
arrested 19 contractors on suspicion of having been involved in
submitting falsified bank statements worth about RM49 million to
the state Education Department.

According to a source, all the suspects, aged between 24 and 53,

were picked up at the Sabah MACC office here at about 10am.

The source said that the falsified bank statements were submitted
as an inducement to secure tenders for several schools throughout
Sabah.

Sabah MACC director Datuk S Karunanithy, when contacted,

confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under
Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 471 of the Penal
Code.

He said all the suspects, comprising 10 men and nine women,

would be charged in the Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Court
soon.
Sabah MACC detains 19 contractors over submission of falsified bank
statements. – The Edge Market, March 05, 2022 17:13 pm +08
.Meanwhile, Karunanithy said in 2020, the Sabah MACC had
arrested 39 contractors believed to have used the same modus
operandi, involving a contract value amounting to more than RM80
million.

Following the arrests, he said 132 charges were brought to the

Special Corruption Court in Sabah last year.
Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department to
conduct integrity testing among police personnel. – The Malay Mail,
Sunday, 06 Mar 2022 09:10 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will
conduct integrity testing to evaluate the level of integrity or compliance of its
officers and personnel working in the field especially involving hot spot
assignments to combat corruption.

Bukit Aman Department of Integrity and Standards Compliance (JIPS)

director Datuk Azri Ahmad said the integrity testing includes observation,
monitoring and impersonating which involves police officers going
undercover as a civilian.

He said among the hot spot assignments are the manning of roadblocks,
patrol car, motorcycle patrol unit and investigating officer.

“The implementation of the integrity testing helps in eliminating

opportunities and the chance for corruption to occur among police
personnel and officers besides increasing public confidence towards the
police.

“In our effort to eliminate corruption, JIPS will also empower its discipline
and drug control system (SKDD) which was introduced in 1979,” he told
Bernama recently.

SKDD is a systematic regulatory and supervisory instrument to monitor

Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department to
conduct integrity testing among police personnel. – The Malay Mail,
Sunday, 06 Mar 2022 09:10 AM MYT
lifestyle, property ownership and negative activities including drug abuse,
corruption, gambling, vice and any breach of the code of conduct.

Azri said in line with the effort, JIPS will monitor the implementation of
SKDD to ensure that every member of the police force avoids negative
activities.

“Efforts to tackle corruption involve strengthening the integrity of police

personnel through development, prevention and rehabilitation.

“JIPS wants police officers and personnel to stay away from corruption not
out of fear of the legal action and regulations but because of self-
awareness,” he added.

Therefore, he said JIPS will continue to work with the Malaysian Anti-
Corruption Commission (MACC) to design capital development training
module (integrity), especially for trainees undergoing basic police training at
police training centres.

Azri said JIPS also emphasised on courses, in-service trainings as well as

continuous spiritual programmes to every level of the police force, either the
frontliners or the decision-making officers. — Bernama
Zahid ticks off Tajuddin for airing internal affairs. Free Malaysia Today
FMT Reporters -March 6, 2022 9:40 PM
MUAR: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has indirectly
ticked off Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul
Rahman for bringing up internal party matters during a
parliamentary debate.

Zahid said the best stage to discuss party issues was at the
party’s Supreme Council meeting.

Tajuddin, who is MP for Pasir Salak, was reported to have

criticised Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan during a
Dewan Rakyat debate for urging that the 15th general
election be held sooner.

Zahid said although MPs had immunity to speak on various

issues in the Dewan Rakyat, internal party issues should be
discussed at the appropriate forum, Bernama reported.

“Even though I respect personal opinions, the party’s stand

must be respected. The party has not made a stand, and of
course, this stand will be discussed during a suitable time,” 11
Zahid ticks off Tajuddin for airing internal affairs. Free Malaysia Today
FMT Reporters -March 6, 2022 9:40 PM
Zahid told reporters while visiting a polling centre in the
Maharani state constituency today,

Zahid, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said he was

confident that the coalition could win enough seats in the
Johor state elections to form the new state government.

He also hoped that Johor voters would not be easily

influenced by the “repeated attacks” against BN and its
candidates.

“We know that repeated attacks are being directed, not only
on our BN candidates, but national issues are being played
up to discredit us. We expected it. However, we are
confident in the wisdom of the voters in Johor,” he said.

Johor voters go to the polls on March 12.

12