IGP: No 'sign' of CBT in MARA’s Melbourne deal

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 ― Malaysian police have not begun investigating the controversial Melbourne property purchase by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Inc as the force has yet to find any element of criminal breach of trust (CBT) in the deal, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

Khalid said for now, the allegations of corruption in MARA Inc’s RM65 million Dudley House buy will be investigated solely by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“MACC is the only agency investigating the allegation for now.

“(This is because) the police didn't find any CBT so the investigation is all in MACC's hands,” Khalid told reporters at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here.

On Saturday, the MACC was forced to deny allegations that it was trying to cover up the case after DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang accused the anti-graft agency of failing to charge anyone despite seven months of investigation.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull labelled the allegations unfair and refuted Lim's claim that the investigations on MARA Inc’s Melbourne deal had started from December 2014.

Instead, he said the probe had started last March.

Shukri said MACC started “profiling” the individuals and companies related to MARA Inc’s purchase of Dudley House in Melbourne that was said to be overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) after receiving tip-offs last March.

MACC then received a visit from Australian police last month, where both agencies exchanged information and started a joint investigation, he said, adding that a few individuals have been called up to have their statements recorded.

Last Tuesday, Australian paper The Age reported that a senior MARA official and two “elite” Malay businessmen were involved in corruption related to the Malaysian government agency’s A$22.5 million purchase of Dudley House in Melbourne.

According to The Age, an eight month-long investigation by Fairfax Media, its parent publishing house, revealed that this group of “super-rich Malaysian officials” had spent government investment funds to push up the price of the student housing block that was built for A$17.8 million, but inflated by A$4.75 million to A$22.5 million.