Whistleblower lodges report after 'very frightening' abduction case

Summary

• Whistleblower “Albert”, fearing for his safety after exposing alleged corruption in Sabah, files a police report today.

• He cites the recent kidnapping of Pamela Ling, who also cooperated with the MACC.

• His legal team, including ex-MACC chief Latheefa Koya, highlights past death threats and the concerning parallels with Ling’s unresolved abduction.

The whistleblower who exposed the Sabah corruption scandal lodged a police report today, expressing fear of suffering the same fate as Pamela Ling, who was kidnapped in broad daylight while on her way to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

The 36-year-old man, known only as “Albert”, made a police report at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters this morning.

Wearing a face mask to shield his identity, he was accompanied by his lawyer, Latheefa Koya.

Latheefa, a former MACC chief commissioner, said her client has not received any protection from the authorities after exposing the corruption case involving key Sabah leaders.

“Albert has made a police report for his safety because of what happened to Ling, who was recently kidnapped and to this day has not been found.

“This is very frightening. What’s the connection… the connection is that she is also someone who went to the MACC to give evidence, not once, not twice, but several times.

“We don’t want to comment on the investigation involving Ling or her husband, but we want to emphasise the similarity in terms of safety,” she told the media after making the police report.

Abducted from a Grab car

Albert is the individual who exposed alleged corruption in Sabah involving politicians and state government leaders, which led to an MACC investigation.

On Tuesday, his other lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, also urged that Albert be given protection.

Mahajoth explained that the concern arose after Ling was kidnapped from a Grab e-hailing car as she was nearing the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on April 9, by individuals allegedly wearing police uniforms.

The incident, however, only became public knowledge on May 2.

The MACC on May 29 said it anticipates a forensic report regarding the alleged corruption videos involving several Sabah state assembly members related to a mineral mining licensing issue to be obtained within a week.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency has been reviewing all 10 video clips thoroughly.

On April 29, Albert handed over a phone containing WhatsApp messages related to the case and nearly 300 pages of evidence to the MACC.

Death threats

Latheefa further said that Albert has also received threats from unknown parties after making the disclosure.

She said no further action was taken even though he made a police report last November after receiving death threats, no further action was taken.

“He received death threats in November (last year), and he made a police report after receiving a picture of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated.

“That was an indirect message (of a death threat),” she added.

Warisan Youth chief Terence Au expressed hope that the police and MACC would afford protection to Albert immediately, to prevent a repeat of “perverse” incidents like Ling’s abduction just hundreds of metres from MACC’s headquarters.

“Based on photos and videos from today’s press conference outside the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters, we see Mr A was wearing a hat and a white mask.

“We cannot imagine the fear, worry, and anxiety he faces,” he said in a statement.

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