The MACC has started it's probe against action taken by various authorities and individuals which it said constituted harassment to its investigations on SRC International Sdn Bhd.

This follows the reported arrests of MACC personnel police and the confiscation of documents and computers last month and also action by several individuals that led to the short-lived transfer of two senior MACC officers to the Prime Minister's Department.

"Yes, we have started our probe under Section 48 of the MACC Act 2009 for harassment of our investigations," a source told Malaysiakini .

"This follows the many reports filed by the public over the incident," said the source on condition of anonymity. .

Section 48 of the MACC Act covers obstruction of MACC investigations or searches and stipulates eight instances of obstruction including assaulting, obstructing or hindering any MACC officer in the execution of his/her duties and interferes or attempts to interfere or threatens MACC officers involved in investigations.

Asked whether MACC was investigating the police or those who had ordered the transfer of its two officers, the source said both.

Last month it was reported that police arrested an MACC prosecuting officer, DPP Ahmad Shazalee Abdul Khairi in the early morning hours of Aug 1.

The arrest was made in front of his family members and Ahmad Shazalee had to spend the night in the lock-up and had his laptop seized.

Subsequently, six other MACC officers were also picked up and had their statements recorded and items seized by the police.

This follows police investigating reports of an alleged leak of a draft charge sheet which was published in the Sarawak Repor. The leak was classified under Section 124B of the Penal Code which covers activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Transfers reversed

There were allegations of police meddling into the MACC probe when it was reported that they had worked round the clock through the fasting month and Hari Raya and had seen many of its witnesses were picked up by the police and after MACC picked up a witness, the police later picked them up.

Besides Ahmad Shazalee's arrests, officers attached to MACC's Special Operations division which was probing SRC International were also not spared with six of its officers also probed by the police.

The action also saw MACC Special Operations division director Bahri Mohamad Zin being transferred to the Prime Minister's Department on Aug 10 after he spoke out against the harassment and obstruction that he and his officers faced.

MACC's strategic communications director Rohaizad Yaakob ( photo ) was also transferred effective Aug 10 for accepting a memorandum from opposition leaders who paid MACC a visit.

However, the transfers were reversed following a meeting between chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa and the Public Services Department director-general Mohamad Zabidi Zainal.

Subsequently, MACC reports was also lodged mostly by members of the public against Ali and Zabidi.

It is understood the letters of transfer for the two MACC officers were signed by Zabidi.

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