The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) today revealed that the probe on the alleged abuse of power involving former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not involve the agency.

mohd shukri abdul aca investigation director 080408 In a rare press conference in Putrajaya today, ACA director of investigation Mohd Shukri Abdul ( photo ) said that the case was with the police.

Last week, former UN special rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy said there was “sufficient evidence” to show that Mahathir had interfered with the ACA in the agency’s probe into the then then Economic Planning Unit (EPU) director-general Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman.

Param said that revelations as to that emerged as evidence during Anwar Ibrahim’s corruption trial eight years ago.

During Anwar’s second trial in June 2000 before Justice Arifin Jaka, then ACA director Shafee Yahya had given sworn testimony that Mahathir had ordered him to halt an investigation on Ali.

According to Param, police reports alleging that Mahathir had interfered with ACA investigations were filed the day after the court testimony - on June 13, 2000.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shukri said that the agency’s investigation against Ali, which began in 1998, was completed three years later.

According Mohd Shukri, the investigation papers were sent to the attorney-general for further action.

“The AG said that some of the witnesses did not provide consistent evidence. Based on the facts, the AG ordered that we close the case,” he said.

Shafee didn’t report to ACA

Mohd Shukri, who was representing ACA chief Ahmad Said Hamdan at the press conference, said he had personally revisited the ACA file on Ali’s case soon after news broke that Param had called for an action to be taken Mahathir.

Despite being pressed repeatedly, Mohd Shukri could not divulge matters pertaining to police investigations on the matter other than the fact that Shafee had been was called in for police questioning in 2000.

“You should ask the IGP (Inspector-General of Police),” he said.

To a question, Mohd Shukri said that since the agency’s establishment, no ACA officer had ever lodged a complaint regarding interference in their line of duty.

In Shafee’s case, Mohd Shukri said that the former did not lodge a complaint with the agency.

Mohd Shukri said that it impossible for an ACA investigation to be “stopped halfway” as alleged by Shafee in his sworn testimony.

“We have no right to stop half way. Once an investigation is initiated it must be completed,” he added.

IGP Musa Hassan when contacted at 5pm today was unable to provide a response because he was in a meeting.