MACC uses tactical team to search Tan Sri's home for suspected armoury

Summary

• MACC deploys its tactical squad to search a Tan Sri's residence in connection with a suspected weapons storage.

• MACC seizes luxury items worth approximately RM16 million and discovers a bulletproof secret room containing registered weapons.

• The operation is linked to investigations into the misappropriation of at least RM20 million from sukuk funds designated for Klang Valley highway construction.

The MACC yesterday deployed its Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS) while recording statements from a “Tan Sri” due to suspicions that the man’s residence contained a secret room housing weapons.

In a statement today, the anti-graft agency said it had received information about a secret room at the individual’s residence that stored valuable items, including weapons, linked to the investigation into misappropriated sukuk funds for Klang Valley highway construction.

“The presence of the ACTS team was intended to safeguard security and escort officers as well as seized items to be brought back to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya,” the statement read.

The MACC stated that it seized several luxury items from the man’s residence, including luxury handbags, branded watches, gold bars, coins, and statues, as well as luxury branded alcoholic beverages, diamonds, and jewellery.

It said the seizure followed an initial raid by its investigation division at the individual’s residence, which yielded 84 luxury handbags valued at approximately RM3 million; 11 branded watches totalling approximately RM1 million; alcoholic beverages worth RM5 million; gold bars, coins and statues valued at approximately RM3 million; and diamonds and jewellery worth approximately RM4 million.

Additionally, the MACC said that one set of luxury-branded casino equipment, estimated to be worth RM150,000, was also seized.

“The MACC also discovered a bulletproof secret room which served as storage for weapons and ammunition. However, no seizure was made as the weapons in question were registered under the name of a security company owned by the individual concerned,” it explained.

Further seizures possible

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that the total search and seizure yesterday amounted to approximately RM16 million. He also did not rule out the possibility that further seizures would be conducted.

Azam said the process of recording the Tan Sri's statement would also be postponed to another date, due to the man's health condition.

The Star yesterday reported that four ACTS vehicles were seen entering the man’s property in Bandar Tasik Selatan at 10.50am, including two white vans, a Nissan Grand Livina, and a Honda City, and that the ACTS officers were armed.

The report also said that MACC officers continued questioning the man yesterday, after interrogating him for over six hours the day before, from 9am till 3.07pm.

On June 2, the MACC revealed that at least RM20 million from sukuk funds earmarked for a Klang Valley highway project had been misused for gambling.

Azam said the transactions were uncovered during further investigations into the case.

He added that the anti-graft agency is still tracing assets within the country and abroad, which will be frozen or seized to facilitate further investigations.

The New Straits Times also reported that the MACC had seized assets and frozen bank accounts totalling RM85.6 million in its investigation.

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