KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has discovered new leads in its investigation into the purchase of the Scorpene submarine from a French company.
Accordingly, the commission will resume the investigation, concentrating on these new leads.
BH was informed that the investigation will focus on the embezzlement of RM42 million, which was part of the RM530 million paid under the contract for support services related to the submarine purchase.
Sources said a company is also under MACC observation.
"A local company that was appointed is said to have made payments to several companies without the knowledge of the board of directors.
"These payments, totaling RM42 million, were believed to have been redirected to companies owned by the relatives of the company involved," said the source.
BH was also informed that the MACC will call several witnesses to assist with the investigation.
"MACC has identified the individuals involved and have previously recorded their statements."
When asked about the Scorpene investigations, the source said that the MACC never closed the case.
"The investigation was reactivated based on new findings."
In April, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that the investigations into 2002's purchase of the Scorpene submarine are still ongoing.
Azam said that his team is still in contact with international parties to gather information.
"The case is ongoing and we continue to communicate with foreign entities to obtain details about certain transactions," he said.
The purchase of the submarine sparked controversy in 2010 and was also linked to a former prime minister.
In 2002, the former prime minister, who was then the defence minister, oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene-type submarines and one Agosta-type submarine from the French naval shipyard unit DCN (now part of Thales) worth nearly STG1 billion (USD$1.17 billion).