MACC looking to complete Sabah graft probe before end-January

Summary

• MACC is looking to complete its probe into the Sabah graft scandal before the end of January.

• Chief commissioner Azam Baki says investigators are working to wrap up the probe as soon as possible.

• However, Azam cites the whistleblower’s refusal to furnish evidence without immunity from prosecution as a complication.

MACC aims to wrap up its investigation into the corruption scandal implicating Sabah state leaders before the end of January, according to chief commissioner Azam Baki.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, he said MACC investigators working on the case have been instructed to complete and submit their investigation findings to the agency’s deputy public prosecutor “as soon as possible”.

“Please give us some time. We are trying our best to complete the investigation as soon as possible.

“But I can assure you, towards the end of January, we will complete the investigation. It won’t go beyond that,” Azam said.

Malaysiakini contacted the top anti-graft officer to get an update on its probe into alleged bribery involving Sabah state assembly members, including several leaders in the state administration.

This followed a series of revelations by a businessperson cum whistleblower, who shared with Malaysiakini video clips and screenshots of WhatsApp messages that allegedly show the politicians discussing bribes for supporting a mining prospecting licence.

No evidence furnished

However, according to Azam, the whistleblower has not furnished any of the alleged evidence that he has to MACC despite having met investigators several times to give his statement.

Instead, he said, the whistleblower kept asking for immunity from prosecution.

This, the chief commissioner said, makes it difficult for investigators to verify the allegations.

“In our investigation, we need to prove the authenticity (of the evidence). We cannot rely on what comes out on social media and such (other platforms).

“Because our forensics (experts) need to analyse the videos because that is the requirement by the court.

“As he refused to provide us with the videos, surely it makes our investigation more difficult. But he didn’t want to share with us, what can I do?” he said.

Last month, the whistleblower released seven videos implicating several Sabah lawmakers who were purportedly discussing bribes in exchange for supporting an application by the whistleblower for a licence.

This came on the heels of four other videos of the purported discussions that were released in November.

Later in December, the whistleblower also revealed a series of screenshots containing alleged WhatsApp conversations between him and several Sabah lawmakers to prove that they were not political donations.

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