MACC arrests Musa Aman for corruption

(FMT) – Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman has been arrested by anti-graft officials over corruption investigations including on bribes for approving timber concessions.

A source said the 67-year-old Musa would likely be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court later today with 35 counts of bribery involving about RM263 million.

“The offences were allegedly committed in 2009,” the source told FMT.

Musa, who was accompanied by a lawyer, arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here at 10am where he was detained to have his statement recorded.

The former state Umno chief will be escorted by MACC officers to the court this afternoon to face charges.

According to the source, the charges will be framed in violation of Section 11 (a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997 Act. If found guilty, Musa could be jailed for between 14 days and 20 years and fined not less than five times the value of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Musa was chief minister from 2003 until the May 9 general election when Barisan Nasional lost the state government to Warisan, led by Shafie Apdal.

Prosecutors have since charged former prime minister Najib Razak and his ex-deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as well.

Najib faces 38 charges of money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust involving state investment fund 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International.

Zahid, who is Umno president, meanwhile has been slapped with 45 charges related to criminal breach of trust, money laundering and corrupt practices.