KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Commercial crimes police are poring over transactions involving i-Serve Online Mall Sdn Bhd to see if there is a paper trail linking the e-commerce company and troubled budget carrier MYAirlines whose co-founder is being investigated for money laundering offences.
Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf told Utusan Malaysia that investigators are looking into whether i-Serve’s networks could have been used for illegal money laundering to fund the financially-strapped MYAirlines.
“Preliminary investigation found that the suspect is believed to have conspired with the main mastermind in the i-Serve business as well as the business network in the company since 2018, suspected to be the result of an investment money.
“The investigation is now focused on examining transaction documents involving i-Serve's business.
“We are conducting further investigations and do not rule out the possibility of making other arrests related to this case in the near future,” he was quoted as saying.
Ramli had told reporters two days ago that police have arrested a man in his 40s at his home in Bangsar here who is suspected to be in cahoots with MYAirline co-founder Datuk Allan Goh Hwan Hua and his family.
Goh is also a shareholder in i-Serve.
Goh, his wife and son were arrested at their home in Shah Alam, Selangor on October 17 for investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
All three have since been released on police bail.
Utusan Malaysia today reported Ramli saying police are investigating the Bangsar man’s role and have frozen the latter’s 15 bank accounts with about RM5 million on top of confiscating several documents and goods he owned.
Ramli urged i-Serve investors to file police reports on their individual investment amounts to facilitate comprehensive investigation against i-Serve, QA Partnership, Trillion Cove and MyAirlines.
“This report is important to assist further police investigations,” he was quoted as saying.
Ramli also said police are looking into other offences being committed in the MYAirline scandal, such as the abuse of investor funds, The Star reported separately today.
“It’s not just money laundering. We are also looking at other crimes such as abusing funds from investors.
“We are looking at the crimes and offences that could have been committed in the span of two years or more (of its operations).
“It will take time, but investigators are hard at work, poring through transactions involving several companies, including i-Serve and MYAirline,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.
Ramli said investigators were using forensic accounting but declined to disclose further details.
“Since the first series of arrests were made, CCID investigators have been working to uncover the crimes.
“They are going through statements by witnesses as well as relevant documents from various companies linked to the main suspect,” he told the local English-language daily.
Ramli has so far said 12 vehicles from two suspects, documents related to i-Serve Technology and Vacation Sdn Bhd, six luxury watches, eight luxury handbags, two laptops, one CPU and 10 pieces of jewellery have been confiscated.
Police began investigating MYAirlines after it abruptly announced a suspension of operations at 5.30am on October 12, citing financial problems.
The sudden move stranded thousands of passengers on domestic and regional flights.
On October 16, the budget carrier said refunds to passengers could reach up to an estimated RM22 million, adding that it could only begin reimbursement after it secures new investors.
