MACC probes CID chief

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun an investigation into police CID director Commissioner Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd over the almost RM1 million he deposited into his Australian bank account after an unidentified whistleblower lodged a report with the commission on the matter yesterday.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki told theSun yesterday that the complainant is protected under the Whistleblowers Protection Act and his identity cannot be revealed.
"Initially, we heard about the case from an open source and we cannot simply jump the gun. As we said before, we respect the internal investigations by the police and the statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi). We will take that into consideration and with the fresh information we have received from the whistleblower yesterday, we will initiate an investigation which will begin as soon as possible," he said.
Azam said the commission's investigation officers will head out to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman and liaise with Australian police to seek further information on the case.
He urged the public to give the commission space to investigate and refrain from making speculations.
"This case occurred in Australia in 2016. Hence, we will need to seek the relevant details from both the Australian authorities and federal police." he said.
On Sunday, Azam said that although the MACC accepted the internal probe findings which cleared Wan Ahmad of the case, the commission will initiate an investigation if a a report backed with sufficient proof of wrongdoing or power abuse is lodged by any individual.
Also yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan said the MACC should investigate Wan Ahmad instead of waiting for a report to be lodged against him.
Low, who oversees the country's fight against graft, said: "It should be investigated because the case seems to be improper conduct. Even without someone filing a report, MACC should initiate an investigation."
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said it is up to MACC to decide.
"It's up to MACC. The police have done their investigations and accepted Wan Najmuddin's explanation," he said.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin urged MACC to regain public trust by probing Wan Ahmad's case seriously.
"The public is watching and I hope they don't lose hope and confidence in MACC," Sim said.
Klang MP Charles Santiago said it is strange that the police have cleared Wan Ahmad of any crime when even foreign media have noticed "a possible crime".
"It is really strange for a monthly wage earner to forgo RM1million parked in an Australian bank," he told theSun.
Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran supported Low's call for MACC to investigate Wan Ahmad.
"This cannot be swept under the carpet because no civil servant can afford to lose such a huge amount of money, RM1 million," he said.