PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have summoned 10 individuals for their statements to be recorded in relation to the investigation into the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) audit report.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission senior director of investigation Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim said those who were called up are staff members of the corporation as well as the Human Resources Ministry.
The commission had previously said that it would be calling witnesses to assist in its investigation, Bernama reported.
The MACC, which had earlier received the report on the HRD Corp audit, said that several investigation papers had been opened and a task force has been set up to scrutinise the report.
On Tuesday, investigators had gone to the ministry as well as the corporation’s headquarters in Bukit Damansara to obtain the documents.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim had instructed for a report to be made with the MACC, following the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee’s reports – which were tabled in Parliament last week.
Suspicious real estate deals and high-risk investments were some of the issues identified by the PAC in its audit report on HRD Corp.
One such deal was the purchase of Menara Ikhlas for RM202.5mil in February 2021, where a deposit of RM120mil was paid upfront to a company called Crystal Clear Technology.
HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid said in a statement that he acknowledged the shortcomings found in the audit reports, adding that the corporation had implemented several improvements which helped increase levy collection over the years.
The statement, however, did not address findings that HRD Corp had invested levy collected from employers on several high-risk investments despite it not being an investment institution.
Meanwhile, a couple were among four suspects arrested by the MACC for misappropriating over RM3mil in public donations over the past four years.
According to a source, three men and a woman aged in their 20s and 30s were detained at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Wednesday night after their statements were recorded.
The suspects were taken to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court yesterday where Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin granted a remand order for all of them until July 14.
“The husband and wife are believed to have been involved since 2020 by misappropriating donations, which they did not channel accordingly.
“It is estimated that the donations collected surpassed RM3mil, with investigations still at the initial stages.
“The two other suspects were detained because they are also believed to be involved,” the source added.
When contacted, Hishamuddin confirmed the arrests, saying the case was being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act.
The provision states that any officer of a public body who uses his of her office or position for any gratification, whether for themselves, their relatives or associates, commits an offence.
Those convicted may be jailed not more than 20 years and fined not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
