Nazri: Michael Chia never arrested in HK with Sabah Umno cash
(The Malaysian Insider) – Putrajaya revealed today that businessman Michael Chia was never caught in Hong Kong holding large sums of Singapore currency as reported, in the latest twist to the saga over a RM40 million political donation for Sabah Umno.
“According to MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), Chia was never arrested in Hong Kong… that is the MACC’s answer.
“And (Hong Kong’s) ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) never caught Michael Chia,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (picture) said when wrapping up committee stage debates on Budget 2013.
The Padang Rengas MP explained that the RM40 million, which was allegedly meant for Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, was actually frozen in an investment account in Hong Kong.
Nazri admitted, however, that he was not certain of the exact details but said that the money in the Hong Kong account was later meant to be transferred to an account in a Swiss bank.
“That is my understanding of the case,” he told the House.
The minister was replying to a question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) who had asked why the Malaysian authorities had not sought information from the Swiss government when investigating Musa for graft.
Lim had cited reports claiming that Chia was holding more money for Musa in a Swiss bank account.
“This matter raised about the Swiss bank account is actually the same as the one frozen in Hong Kong that was yet to be transferred to the Swiss account.
“Therefore when it was discovered that the cash was not corruption money but a political donation, so the question of seeking information from the Swiss government did not arise,” Nazri said.
Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nazri-michael-chia-never-arrested-in-hk-with-sabah-umno-cash
