KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 730 bank accounts with funds amounting to RM80 million, and seized RM5 million cash from Macau Scam syndicates.
Its commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki said several assets seized were believed to be proceeds of money laundering and other illegal activities.
"Besides cash and bank accounts, we seized 23 luxury vehicles, including Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls Royce and some high-powered motorcycles.
"The asset seizure is to cripple the syndicates from continuing to scam people," he said, in an interview with MACC.fm today.
Azam also said MACC has arrested 11 locals and a Chinese national to assist investigations.
"MACC has also detained eight officers from an enforcement agency for investigations because they were believed to be giving protection to those involved in the Macau Scam."
The commission has opened investigations under Section 16 and Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
"MACC also found that the syndicates deliberately created hundreds of shell companies to launder the money acquired illegally.
"Investigations are still ongoing as we are tracing many other assets that have been acquired through money laundering," he said.
Azam said scam syndicates usually resort to several tactics to evade the authorities from detecting their illegal activities.
"They also lend money to legal business entities and later become share signatories of the companies to ensure that the business owners pay them back.
"Sometimes, these scammers also channel the money through loan sharks," he said.
Azam added that business entities may be innocent in this case, but they must come forward to report any suspicious activities and cooperate with the MACC.
Azam said the ill-gotten wealth seized from the Macau Scam syndicates will be forfeited to the government.
Azam also urged the public to come forward and cooperate with the MACC and assured them protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.