Melbourne property inflated, bribery involved, says The Age on Mara deal
(TMI/The Age) – “They stole A$4.75 million in Malaysian government money, taxpayer money, and we documented this theft beyond any reasonable doubt. Is Mara arguing that the agency’s officials could have gotten away with stealing more?”
Vendors for Dudley International House in Melbourne have admitted in a sworn testimony that they inflated the price of the property, rubbishing claims by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) that it paid lower than the market rate for the property, The Age said.
The Australian paper’s regional editor and journalist told The Malaysian Insider the evidence they obtained in exposing the transaction proved “beyond reasonable doubt” that price inflation and bribery took place involving Malaysian officials.
“The assertion that the property price wasn’t inflated is false. The vendors admitted in a sworn testimony in court that the price was inflated from AS$17.8 million to AS$22.5 million,” journalist Nick McKenzie (pic) told The Malaysian Insider in an email yesterday.
McKenzie said the paper also have in its possession, “false invoices” to prove that a bribe was indeed paid.
“This paperwork can all be provided to Malaysian authorities. It is already in the hands of the Australian federal police,” he said.
This comes just as PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli promised to reveal more evidence on the deal in a press conference today.
The Age previously reported that the property was bought by Mara’s subsidiary Mara Inc for RM63.5 million although it was valued at RM51 million at the time of purchase. The difference, it said, was pocketed as kickbacks for senior Mara officials.
Mara chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa in a recent interview had said the property was valued at RM71 million at the time of the purchase.
