The value of the land ownership grants seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from the deputy director of a government department in Sabah after being detained on Oct 4, is estimated to be worth RM30 million.

Sources close to the MACC investigation team said the land grants seized from the deputy director included those for residential, agricultural and commercial land in several locations in Sabah.

"MACC has also received information on several bank accounts belonging to the two suspects (director and deputy director of a government department) in three countries where investigations found more than RM30 million had been transferred to their accounts.

"Preliminary information revealed the director had transferred about RM1 million to his accounts abroad. The rest was owned by the deputy director," according to the sources in Kota Kinabalu today.

Meanwhile, according to the sources, as of today, MACC had recorded the statements of 40 witnesses relating to the 'Ops Water' investigation.

According to the sources, those whose statements were recorded today were the family members of the deputy director, and workers from several companies which were believed to be directly involved in basic infrastructure projects worth more than RM3.3 billion.

The sources also mentioned that MACC was expected to apply for the extension of the remand on all suspects whose remand periods would expire tomorrow.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the information but declined to comment further on the investigation being conducted.

On Oct 4, MACC detained the director and deputy director of a government department here and seized RM114.5 million from them, for alleged abuse of power involving the infrastructure projects.

It is also the biggest case in the history of the MACC.

Bernama