RM5.1 billion in assets returned last year, almost 100% linked to 1MDB, says MACC

The total assets forfeited and returned to the Malaysian government last year were worth about RM5.1 billion, with 99.57% of them linked to 1MDB, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki said today.

He said following investigations by MACC, 152 cases of property forfeiture were filed in court, of which 121 cases had been resolved.

“117 cases or 96.7% were in favour of the prosecutor, and four cases or 2.2% were not,” he said in addressing the 2021 MACC Media Awards ceremony at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya today.

Azam also said MACC would investigate any complaints of corruption, even if the amount involved was small.

“If there is a reasonable reason to show an offence under MACC’s jurisdiction, an investigation paper will be opened and upon completion of the investigation, it will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action,” he added.

“Although the consent for the prosecution of a case is at the discretion of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the decision depends on the strength of the evidence from MACC’s investigation.”

Azam said MACC had its own SOPs for conducting investigations and could not open investigation papers based solely on information provided by a blogger or social media user.

“If there is no evidence or not enough, the investigation paper will be closed. This is to ensure that an innocent person is not persecuted, and that the accused has the opportunity to defend himself in court,” he added.