Ismail Sabri expected to assist further in aides’ graft probe
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for five hours before he was hospitalised recently, is expected to be summoned again.
Sources said this was so that the former prime minister can assist in investigations regarding several corruption and money laundering cases.
MACC had taken the Bera MP’s statement last week.
“He was questioned before he was hospitalised to assist in the investigation. We will call him again for another round of questioning but we have not set a date yet,” the MACC source said.
Previously, four former officials, including two individuals with the title “Datuk”, who are linked to Ismail Sabri, were remanded by MACC on Feb 21, on suspicion of being involved in corruption.
Additionally, an executive officer from a foundation and a woman, who was also an assistant to a special officer, were also arrested by the anti-corruption agency in the process.
The arrests were made under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
As a result, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, in a statement last Thursday, was reported saying that eight more witnesses will be called in, in the near future to assist in the investigation related to the arrest of the four officials linked to the ninth prime minister.
It is understood that several cases are currently under investigation by MACC, including one involving government spending amounting to RM700mil for promotional and publicity purposes.
It was reported that Ismail Sabri’s aide Azran Fitri Rahim said the former prime minister fainted at home at about 2.30am yesterday due to hypertension and was rushed to the hospital.
Ismail Sabri had served as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister from August 2021 to November 2022.
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