MACC completes probe into alleged RM40m money laundering linked to Musa Aman

By Shannon Teoh

June 21, 2012

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Graftbusters have completed investigations into alleged money laundering by Sabah timber tycoon Michael Chia linked to the state’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Batu MP Chua Tian Chang yesterday that the case has been passed on to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for consideration.

“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has conducted investigations into the Michael Chia case which is linked to the Sabah chief minister.

“It has been completed and presented to the AGC for study and a decision,” he said, adding that the anti-graft body received full co-operation from its counterparts in Hong Kong.

Musa (picture) had denied in April corruption allegations linking him to a RM400 million timber graft scandal as exposed by whistleblower site Sarawak Report.

The Umno leader also denied any link with Chia, who was arrested and charged with money laundering after attempting to smuggle S$16 million (RM40 million) back to Malaysia in 2008.

According to media reports, Chia had allegedly told the Hong Kong authorities that the money belonged to Musa.

“I deny all these allegations. I wish to put it on record once again that I have no business association whatsoever with an individual named Michael Chia,” the usually media-shy Musa had said in a statement.

Musa instead accused Sarawak Report of defaming him, claiming the graft allegations were likely part of a conspiracy by his detractors who wanted to topple Barisan Nasional (BN) in the east Malaysian state.

He said he would offer full co-operation to the authorities if he was required to but stressed that in the meantime, his focus was on serving the state instead of “entertaining these frivolous allegations”.

Sarawak Report had claimed in April to be in possession of documents showing Musa and his brother, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, were linked to a multimillion-ringgit timber graft scandal.

PKR leaders then moved to claim the same, saying the MACC had already recommended a court case against the duo but this was allegedly blocked by the A-G’s Chambers.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli and deputy secretary-general Darell Leiking also issued a one-week deadline to the BN government to order both Musa and Anifah to take temporary leave from their duties and a suspension on A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who has also been linked to numerous other scandals.

Chua, who is PKR vice-president and the party’s Subang MP R. Sivarasa also told a press conference today that as the government had confirmed the probe was passed on to Abdul Gani, the delay in bringing the case to court showed the country’s top lawyer was burying the issue.