Man who accused MACC of RM10m plot charged with obstructing investigations

By admin-s On Mar 7, 2023

Mohamad Shafiq Abdul Halim, who is said to be a researcher for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s former information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, today claimed trial to a charge of obstructing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigations.

(MMO) – The 32-year-old was charged under Section 48 of the MACC Act, which makes it an offence for any person who fails to comply with any lawful demand, notice, order or requirement of an MACC officer in the execution of the MACC officer’s duties.

He was accused of having failed on March 3 to comply with an MACC officer’s order by failing to appear at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya to be investigated.

The MACC officer’s order was issued under Section 30(1)(a), where an MACC officer investigating an offence under the MACC Act may order any person to appear before him to be examined orally in relation to any matter which the officer believes may assist the investigation.

If convicted, the penalty for breaching Section 48(c) is a maximum RM10,000 fine or jail term of up to two years or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib noted that the offence is a bailable offence and proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety, also proposing for the bail conditions to include the court keeping Shafiq’s passport to prevent any attempts to flee abroad and for him to report to the nearest MACC office at least once a month.

Akram also verbally applied for the court to impose a “gag order” on Shafiq to stop him from issuing any statement or comments which would be “sub judice” towards this case and the trial that would take place, stressing that this gag order sought would be limited to just the charge. Sub judice refers to matters which are being considered by a judge and cannot be publicly discussed.