(Updated) Baling MP Abdul Azeez nabbed by MACC

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Tabung Haji chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and his elder brother Abdul Latif were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), here, today.

The Baling Member of Parliament was detained at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 11.15am after giving his statement to the commission.

The 52-year-old Umno Supreme Council member was detained to assist the commission’s probe into a corruption case.

A source from MACC said Abdul Azzez’s elder brother, Abdul Latif, was picked up at an undisclosed location in Sungai Buloh at 11.30am.

A source told NSTP that the brothers were detained to assist investigation into allegations of receiving bribe from a contractor of a project.

The source also revealed that the bribery in question amounted into the millions.

However the commission has yet to conduct any seizure of the amount involved in the case.

The investigation on the duo was conducted under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).

Last May, the MACC had seized jewellery and cash amounting to RM1 million in several locations involving Abdul Azeez.

The raid was related to the investigation into a project which was overseen by Tabung Haji.

A team of MACC officers raided four locations including two of Azeez’s residences in Sunway and Baling as well as the Tabung Haji office and the Putera 1Malaysia Club office, here.

The raid saw them seize half a million ringgit in cash as well as other foreign currency denomination amounting to another half a million in value.

The foreign currencies include those from countries such as Britain, Vietnam, India, North Korea, UAE, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Syria, Somalia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Qatar.