Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail has given his assurance that his chambers would go all-out to solve the disappearance of two F-5E fighter jet engines.

lingam tape panel meeting 031007 abdul gani patail "It is a serious matter. To my knowledge, it is two engines, and what makes matters worse is that the loss was discovered about a year later. I need a full investigation. I think the public deserves to know," he said.

It was reported last week that the two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F-5E fighter jet engines were missing, prompting the authorities to conduct an investigation.

In an interview with Bernama in New Delhi yesterday, Abdul Gani admitted that it would not be an easy case as it involved a range of agencies - ministries, transport and forwarding agencies, the security network, and companies involved in repairing engines.

He said the military conducted its own investigation and then decided to lodge a police report more than a year after the engines went missing.

And, about six months ago, the case was referred to the AG's Chambers for further investigation.

"I have directed my people to conduct a complete check, the entire movement of the two engines, and I want to know where the engines are now.

"This is not a simple matter. It is a concerted effort by a group of people," he noted.

Abdul Gani was in New Delhi to deliver a lecture of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) lecture series.

Papers back to the police

In another development, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said the AG Chambers had returned investigation papers on the two missing engines for a more thorough investigation.

"We had investigated and sent the investigation papers to the Attorney-General for his evaluation and follow-up action.

"But the Attorney-General returned them and asked us to investigate further, get important documents and find out how the engines were taken abroad," he said after launching the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) anniversary celebration today.

Musa said the investigation was in progress and being updated before the papers were sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.

Musa also did not discount possibility that several more people would be detained for their involvement in the theft of the jet engines.

Four people including three low-ranked RMAF officers had been detained and released on bail for their involvement with the case.

Engines in Argentina

Meanwhile, it was reported in the Star today that the two missing engines were shipped off from Port Klang to a third country before ending up in Argentina.

The daily reported that the engines are believed to be in the possession of an individual.

The same report also stated that the police have also seized and frozen the property of a local jet engine buyer, said to be worth millions of ringgit, as they believe the assets were bought from ill-gotten gains.

It is learnt that the properties - a double-storey bungalow, two luxury condominium units and cash in the bank - were seized under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.