PUTRAJAYA: A high-profile individual who served under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed's administration is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over matters highlighted in the Pandora Papers.
A source close to the investigation has confirmed to the New Straits Times that the commission resumed investigations into the offshore wealth of the 84-year-old former minister, as alleged in the Pandora Papers reports in October 2021.
"We have recorded his statement and would be calling a son of a former prime minister as well to have his statement recorded, as part of our ongoing investigations," he said when contacted by the New Straits Times today.
The source said this person held a top position under Dr Mahathir's administration and had been asked, among others, to explain the money flow and investment into 12 offshore companies registered under him and his family members abroad.
"The money flow to foreign investments and then the Pandora Papers report's findings are being carefully studied and investigations are ongoing to see whether there has been any criminal element as stated in the international report," he said.
He added investigations into the case need time because the documents and transactions go back several years.
"It's too early to say anything, but we would be calling more individuals, including family members of the former minister to facilitate the investigation," he said.
In October 2021, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, or ICIJ, made up of 600 journalists across the world, leaked 11.9 million documents and records from 12 offshore service providers that set up and manage shell firms and trusts in tax havens worldwide, including the Cook Island and British Virgin Islands, or BVI.
The leak made headlines worldwide and was called the Pandora Papers.
At least 10 wealthy Malaysians, including businessmen and politicians, were named in the Pandora Papers, which shed light on offshore companies and trusts used to stash away fortunes and evade taxes
The report said 336 global politicians used offshore companies to hide their wealth.
When the Pandora Papers were first reported, Malaysian authorities had investigated the claims on Oct 25, 2021, under the former Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, but the case had not been completed.
The authorities had said they needed more time to investigate the claims, as it dated back to more than 10 years.