Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Zulkipli Mat Noor has been investigated twice before, revealed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said when Zulkifli, a former high-ranking police officer, was appointed as ACA director-general in 2001, there was a probe against him but he was cleared of all the allegations.

Before his term to the post was extended in 2005, another probe was conducted, and again it was found that there was no case against him, Abdullah added.

The premier told this to reporters last night at the end of his three-day visit to Yemen.

On Monday, an anti-corruption watchdog had exposed a report containing allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Zulkipli.

The report was penned by former Sabah ACA chief Mohamad Ramli Manan and sent to former inspector-general of police Mohd Bakri Omar last year.

Copies were also sent to Abdullah, the attorney-general, auditor-general and civil service director-general.

The report accused Zulkipli of amassing wealth and properties beyond his means. He was said to have numerous business interests as well.

It also revealed that Zulkipli was accused by a woman of sexual crime and assault in 1997 when he was Johor police chief.

However, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail said on Wednesday that police investigations in 1997 found no grounds for prosecution.

Zulkipli has since denied all the allegations.

Thorough probe

Commenting on this latest development, Abdullah said he wanted a thorough investigation to be carried out on the allegations.

"I have telephoned the IGP (inspector-general of police Musa Hassan) on the case and he has informed me what is being done," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Abdullah, who had been updated on the case by the IGP, said he wanted the case to be conducted properly to determine the real situation.

In a related development, inspector general of police Musa and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail had a three-hour meeting earlier today to discuss matters pertaining to the corruption allegations against Zulkipli.

On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok said Zulkipli and those who testified against him would be asked to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity on March 12.

Dompok who heads the 12-member committee, said the body would determine whether the allegations involved elements of integrity and if so, would submit the necessary recommendation to Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Star today reported that whistleblower Mohamad Ramli had been investigated at departmental level for being absent from work without official leave prior to his retirement.

Quoting an unnamed official, the report said Mohamad Ramli's case has been referred to the Public Services Commission.

It added that Mohamad Ramli, who retired on Dec 8 last year, would not get his pension pending a decision from the commission.