KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has said the investigation into a case involving former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is based on information obtained from the Pandora Papers.
The investigation papers into the case were opened in February this year.
The Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents and files, exposing the world’s richest and most influential people who hide their wealth by using offshore services.
It said the investigation on Daim was carried out under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
“However, based on the legal principle of ‘presumption of innocence’, a person being investigated is innocent until proven guilty, and the individual involved has every opportunity to clear his name if this case is tried in court.
“It should be emphasised that MACC is an independent commission, which acts professionally following the laws and regulations set, and is monitored by five independent monitoring bodies,” MACC said in a statement today.
It also stressed that it had never issued any official statement accusing Daim of having committed any wrongdoing.
“MACC would like to correct the facts regarding Tun Daim’s statement in relation to the investigation into his case, which has caused confusion and misunderstanding to the general public,” it said.
On June 7, a notice under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 649) was submitted to Daim, requiring him to declare all his assets, both local and abroad, in a written and sworn statement, within 30 days from the date of the notice.
Daim had applied for an extension five times and was granted an extension on July 6, August 10, September 11, October 11, and November 14 this year to declare all his assets.
As part of the MACC investigation process, the public prosecutor issued a Notice of Seizure for Menara Ilham on December 18, under Section 38 (1), MACC Act 2009 (Seizure of Immovable Property).
MACC also urged all parties not to speculate on the case and allow the investigation to continue without interruption.
On December 18, the media reported that MACC seized the Menara Ilham building, believed to be related to an embezzlement case concerning over RM2.3 billion in state funds, involving a corporate figure and former senior minister.
— Bernama
