PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission refutes claims that it did not issue a notice to Datuk Justin Lim Hwa Tat, pointing out that attempts had been made to do so.
The anti-graft agency said that its officers had gone to two of Lim's residences in Kuala Lumpur on June 25 to serve the notice.
However, they found that one of the premises had been sold while he no longer resided in the other.
"On the same date, the MACC had also gone to his offices in the capital and Johor but Lim was not there," the agency said in a statement on Monday (July 24).
The MACC further stated that checks with the Immigration Department found that Lim had left the country in February and there was no record of him returning to Malaysia.
A media statement containing the number and email of the investigation officer was issued on July 12 and the statement was an official and valid notice, it added.
"The MACC is prepared for any legal action from Lim over this matter.
"However, the chief executive officer of Sersol Bhd must first come forward and cooperate with the agency in connection with our investigation into a case," it said.
On July 12, the MACC said it was looking for Lim to assist in an investigation into a false claims case.
However, Lim claimed he did not receive a notice from the agency for him to assist in their investigation.
Lim also claimed that there had been no attempts by the MACC to serve the notice at his place of work or residence and that he had not been approached by any officers from the agency seeking his assistance in relation to the investigations.
Lim said that MACC's statement, which portrayed him as a wanted individual for criminal investigations, was wholly inaccurate and lacks any foundation.
"Such a publication could give the false impression that I am evading or avoiding cooperation with the authorities, which is certainly not the case," he said in a statement issued on July 23.
"To set the record straight, I want to clarify that I have been away on business since early February 2023.
"Despite my absence, I have every intention of fully cooperating with the authorities in any matter where my assistance is required," Lim said.
He urged the MACC to refrain from making any further publications that state or imply otherwise without factual basis.
"It is imperative that my reputation and integrity are safeguarded during this process, and any misleading statements can have severe consequences.
"In this regard, I have formally appointed Messrs Gobind Singh Deo & Co. to represent me as my legal representative during the course of these investigations," he added.
