KUALA LUMPUR: More gold bars and cash, amounting to RM2.6 milllion, were seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday, as the probe into the graft case involving the Rural and Regional Development Ministry secretary-general intensifies.
Sources said the gold bars, weighing 8kg and valued at RM1.6 million, were seized from a safe deposit box in a bank.
The commission also seized RM1 million in cash, including A$80,000, from safe deposit boxes in other banks.
“MACC also seized a Toyota Estima belonging to one of Datuk Mohd Arif Ab Rahman’s sons,” a source told the New Straits Times.
The source said investigations revealed that more than 10 lots of land in the Klang Valley were registered under the names of those in Arif’s family.
“The commission is in the midst of determining the value of the land, and whether the lots were obtained through corrupt means.”
The source said MACC would work with the Inland Revenue Board to check whether the suspects had paid or evaded taxes since 2010.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki, in confirming the latest developments, did not rule out the possibility that more arrests would be made to facilitate investigations.
He said MACC would look into the allegations published in blogs, implicating Arif in several scandals.
Among the allegations are his frequent golfing trips, appointments of contractors, luxury shopping trips abroad, owning luxury cars and the choice of company he engages to arrange his travels.
“We will look into the allegations to ascertain the truth,” said Azam.
The latest seizure came after MACC raided Arif’s house in USJ3, Subang Jaya, on Wednesday.
The commission seized gold bars, cash, luxury handbags, branded watches and foreign currencies worth more than RM3 million.
Arif was picked up at his home, while his two sons were arrested at the MACC headquarters when they arrived for questioning.
A security guard in Arif’s neighbourhood said uniform-clad officers were again seen at the secretary-general’s home yesterday morning.
Checks in the evening showed that no one was present at the house.
The senior civil servant has not been officially named by MACC.