The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is moving to recover about RM12 million for the government in one of its investigations into Sapura Energy Bhd.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the recovery action, agreed with the deputy public prosecutor (DPP), will see the money forfeited and returned to the government soon. “This action has been agreed upon by the lawyers, and the money will be forfeited and returned to the government in the near future. In addition, the DPP will also consider whether charges will be brought against any parties,” he said at a press conference today.
In June, Azam revealed that MACC was probing two Sapura Energy cases dating back to 2018.
The first involved allegations of misappropriation of about RM12 million, where assets and properties linked to a Sapura Petroleum director and his family had been frozen. These included two luxury homes worth RM5.5 million, registered under the company’s chief executive officer. Statements were taken from 15 witnesses, but no arrests were made.
Azam noted that the case was tied to events in 2018, when Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) injected funds into Sapura Energy, reclassifying it as a government-linked company (GLC). “Once a company becomes a GLC, the government holds an interest in it. Any misuse of funds may fall under provisions of our Act, particularly Section 23 of the MACC Act, or possibly offences under the Penal Code,” he said.
The second case, Azam added, involved allegations of bribery in 2011, when a foreign party allegedly paid US$3.3 million to a chief executive officer to secure a project from Sapura Energy, then operating as Sapura Crest.
MACC is seeking assistance from foreign authorities to gather further information. “This second case is expected to take longer, as it involves legal cooperation from foreign jurisdictions. We need to provide them with substantial documentation, and once we receive feedback, we will proceed with investigations on our end,” Azam said.