In a sudden turn of events, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has now started a probe on Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said the probe was initiated after a report was lodged against the senior police officer, which came with substantial evidence by a whistleblower yesterday, the New Straits Times reported.
“Based on the new report, leads and evidence, and allegations against the officer, it becomes our responsibility to investigate the claims.
Mohd Fadli Hamzah
“We have to investigate even though he may have been cleared through an internal investigation conducted by the police,” Azam was quoted as saying.
On March 4, Azam was quoted as saying that the MACC would only initiate an investigation if a report was lodged against Wan Ahmad with enough evidence of wrongdoing.
Last week, Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian police froze Wan Ahmad’s Commonwealth Bank account in Sydney for suspected money laundering.
The reports said that the Australian Federal Police had frozen AUD$320,000 (RM975,792), which were transferred without compliance to Australian laws into Wan Ahmad’s bank account in 2016.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had said Bukit Aman was made aware of the account, and its Integrity and Standard Compliance Department had conducted an internal inquiry and cleared Wan Ahmad of any wrongdoing.
He said Wan Ahmad was able to provide documents to prove the funds originated from the sale of his house in Shah Alam, which was then worth RM700,000 and the funds were for his children’s studies in Australia.
Bernama
Azam said while the MACC respected the internal investigations carried out by the police, the report lodged by the whistleblower and information provided warranted further investigation by the commission.
He added the agency needed time to investigate the case as it happened two years ago and in another country.
“We need time to investigate the claims and this will take some time as investigation officers will need to liaise with a lot of parties to dig up the truth,” he said.
According to the Malay Mail, Azam said the complainant will be shielded under the Whistleblowers Protection Act.
He added that his investigators will liaise with both Malaysian and Australian police on the matter.
Contrary to earlier reports that the CID director has not tried to get back the money seized by Australian police because court action was apparently too expensive, the IGP said Wan Ahmad fully intends to regain his A$320,000.
However, Fuzi said it was Wan Ahmad’s prerogative to decide if he will repatriate the funds confiscated in Australia.
“If you ask him yourself, he would definitely want it back since it’s his, after all.
Bernama
“I was made aware (Wan Ahmad) was of the opinion that remittance would incur a higher fee based on the currency exchange rate,” he was quoted saying by the Malay Mail.
He declined further comment as the case is now the subject of an MACC investigation.
