MACC nabs ex-Mara Inc chairman over Aussie property scandal

(FMT) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a former Mara Incorporated chairman over a property scandal in Australia, says a source in the know.

According to the source, the suspect is a 65-year-old “Datuk”. He was arrested at 11.30am at the MACC headquarters.

“He is understood to have accepted bribes amounting to RM33.45 million over the sale of an Australian property to Mara Incorporated.”

The source said the former chairman is facing 22 charges for corruption and money laundering.

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the arrest and that the suspect will be brought to court to face trial on Friday.

The scandal involves Mara’s purchase of a multimillion-dollar apartment complex in Australia in 2013.

In July, Australian authorities charged a man, Teen Boon Lye, with bribing a Malaysian official to secure the sale of the building called Dudley House in Melbourne.

According to a report by Sydney Morning Herald, Teen was charged on July 9, some five years after an exposé which revealed the price of the property had been inflated by A$4.75 million (RM14.4 million) to provide kickbacks to a group of Malaysian officials.

The original price for the property was A$17.85 million but it was later sold for A$22.6 million, with the A$4.75 million paid or promised to people, including individuals allegedly named Zach Zainal and Erwan Azizi, with the intention of influencing a Malaysian public official to secure the sale of said property.