MACC has no power to prosecute, welcomes legal action against rogue personnel, says Abu Zahar

(The Star) – The Anti-Corruption Advisory Board welcomes action against anti-graft personnel who violate the law, saying there should be no compromise against those who commit wrongdoings and tarnish the image of the organisation.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said this reflected the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s stand of no compromise in any criminal wrongdoings among its men.

In the case of the officer who was charged for CBT on Tuesday (Jan 4), he said the board had hoped for the former to be charged as quickly as possible to avoid negative perception.

“However, the MACC has no power to prosecute. This is the discretion of the Attorney General,” he said on Wednesday (Jan 4).

On Jan 3, Shahrum Nizam Baharuddin had claimed trial to criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving US$6.94mil (RM29.02mil).

Abu Zahar said the board was informed that MACC had carried out asset recovery and had seized cash amounting to US$4.07mil and RM1.6mil as well as assets including land, a house and luxury vehicles.

The board had also expressed its concern over the involvement of three MACC officers in a robbery involving losses amounting to RM700,000 last month.

“The MACC had surrendered the suspects to the police for investigation. This shows that the organisation does not protect any of its officers who are involved in criminal acts,” he said.

The three were suspected to be involved in a gang robbery at a house in Jalan Ampang in December last year.

The board also noted that MACC had taken action against two of its officers for cheating a member of the public of RM40,000.