GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) needs time to review and reopen high-profile cases involving influential individuals.
Its Chief Commissioner, Latheefa Koya said she was perusing all such cases including those in Sarawak and Penang.
“This is not the first time I’ve been told of the many cases said to be controversial, drawing public attention. Not just in Penang, in Sarawak involving VIPs and so on. I wish to inform here that I am reviewing these cases.
“I have summoned and called for all the files which involve controversial figures and I need to go through these. I need to understand why these cases were closed. Was it really NFA (no further action) for the right reason? I need to go through… I need some time to do that,” she said at a news conference after a working visit to the Penang MACC office here.
Also present were MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations), Datuk Azam Baki and Penang MACC director, Datuk Wan Ramli Wan Abdullah.
Asked whether the MACC would reopen the bungalow case involving former Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, Latheefa said there was no necessity to do that as the case had already been decided by the court.
She said the MACC could not do anything except if there were new proof and new issues which would enable the case to be reopened.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense to reopen cases that have reached the courts and disposed of. Once a case has been completed in court, it is completed. You cannot open a case that has been completed. Once a court case is over, it’s closed,” she added.
Last Sept 3, the High Court in Penang granted Lim, who is now Finance Minister, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon a discharge amounting to an acquittal over their corruption charges involving the purchase of a bungalow at below market value. – Bernama
