MACC skips probe as police verify torture claims
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will not look into a former Sime Darby official’s complaint that he was tortured by an anti-graft official until police finish their investigations.
The MACC’s decision has occurred despite a call for investigations by Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam, its panel chairman on prevention and consultation.
“At the moment, the MACC has not initiated any investigations yet because the suspect has lodged a report with the police,” MACC corporate communications deputy director Salim Sundar told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the former Sime Darby man.
“Let the police as an independent authority investigate,” he added.
Former Sime Darby Engineering senior manager Mazhazmi Jamaludin accused MACC Special Operations director Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah on Tuesday of assaulting him during investigations in a graft case.
Mazhazmi lodged a police report in Putrajaya on Tuesday night. His lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman told The Malaysian Insider that Jamidan had allegedly tortured his client to implicate the owner of a shipbuilding company in the alleged corruption.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mazhazmi, 36, was charged in the Sessions Court here with receiving a RM200,000 bribe from MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd owner, Redzuan Goh Mohammed Karian, on December 31, 2008 for allegedly proposing that the latter’s shipbuilding company obtain a US$134.2 million (RM416 million) contract from Sime Darby to construct and sell one lay barge as well as two tug and supply vessel hulls.
Mazhazmi claimed that Jamidan had ordered him to strip naked, blindfolded him and threatened to harm his private parts during detention on June 21 this year.
Shamsul also said his client was allegedly kicked in the shins and slapped in the head during the interrogation, which lasted from day till night in an office on the seventh floor of the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Salim claimed that the MACC could not take any action as Mazhazmi had already lodged a police report.
“There can’t be actions (from two parties) on the same matter,” he added.
Salim also took pains to stress that the graft buster was open to police investigations.
“We are very open. We are allowing the police to investigate first,” he said.
“Then, we’ll decide what is the next course of action,” added Salim.
The MACC man also pointed out that the anti-graft agency had lodged a police report to deny Mazhazmi’s claims.
Ramon said the MACC risked losing public support if Mazhazmi’s assault allegations are not investigated in a transparent manner.
“Public support will be lacking if there is the impression or perception that those arrested are badly treated. So, it is in the best interest of the MACC to clear this matter up through open and transparent investigations with integrity,” Ramon told The Malaysian Insider.
