MACC says two Bersatu accounts seized, not just frozen

(MMO) – Two Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia bank accounts that were previously frozen have since been seized, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.

Responding to Bersatu’s complaints that it still could not access its accounts in CIMB Bank and AmBank that were frozen in January, the MACC said it took control of the two after securing a court order to do so last week.

The MACC said it executed the seizure under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).

“Previously, the accounts involved had been frozen on January 12 and 13 based on Section 44 of the AMLATFPUAA for investigations into money suspected to be ill-gotten.

“Subsequently, the MACC executed the seizure on April 11 based on the investigation and prosecution of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin under the MACC Act and AMLATFPUAA,” the commission said today.

Previously, Bersatu argued that Section 44 of the AMLATFPUAA did not empower the MACC to freeze its accounts for its action against Muhyiddin as he and the party were separate legal entities.

Last month, Muhyiddin claimed trial to charges of corruption and money laundering over the Jana Wibawa projects initiated when he was still the prime minister as well as the tax exempt status of the Yayasan Albukhary charity.

Before that, former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu division deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were also charged over Jana Wibawa.

Jana Wibawa, or “Program Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa”, was launched during Muhyiddin’s administration with the professed aim of improving the capacity and resilience of Bumiputera contractors in construction.