MACC probe: Immigration officer unwell, not on the run - lawyer

An immigration officer has rubbished claims he was on the run from an MACC investigation into an alleged syndicate facilitating the entry of migrants into Malaysia.

The legal team for Roney Irwan Mohamad Nor said on the day he was directed to be present at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), on Aug 29, he was “feeling too weak and breathless to go about his business on that day”.

Law firm Shaharudin Ali & Co rubbished claims of Roney being on the run, explaining that a cardiologist found him having “three severe heart blockages”, and thus medically unfit to surrender to the MACC.

“As solicitors for Roney, we wish to emphasise that our client is ready and willing to surrender to MACC or alternatively to appear in court (in anticipated remand proceedings) on a date and time of MACC’s choosing, save that our client needed about three days to rest.

“We have requested MACC to allow this in view of the health condition of our client.

“The publicity surrounding his case might worsen his heart condition, more particularly so when he was painted by MACC as a wanted fugitive on the run. He is not.

“He has a genuine medical condition and wanted some rest and had sought permission to voluntarily show up either at MACC Headquarters or at Jalan Duta court (Kuala Lumpur Court Complex), as the case may be.

“We have issued a letter to MACC, explaining in detail the circumstances above and we are awaiting a response,” the firm’s partner Shaharudin Ali said in a media statement issued this afternoon.

Last week, the media reported MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki saying they were looking for Roney, whom the antigraft watchdog reportedly expressed belief to be a mastermind behind the syndicate at KLIA.

Azam said the 49-year-old was wanted to assist investigation under Section 17(a) of the Macc Act 2009.

Multiple arrests have been made by the MACC in Penang and Kelantan, as part of a nationwide dragnet.

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