KUALA LUMPUR:A SENIOR Bukit Aman officer with the rank of assistant commissioner of police has been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged involvement in money laundering. The officer, in his mid 50s, was formerly a state Criminal Investigation Department chief.

It is understood that the officer had received a transfer order from the inspector-general of police about a month ago to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Department. However, he had sought a deferment of his transfer and asked for two weeks’ leave to attend to his ailing wife.

Sources said graft busters found RM170,000 in a bag he was carrying when he was picked up in an undisclosed location. Following his arrest, they raided his house and recovered RM300,000 in one of the rooms.

Sources added that MACC had evidence to show that he was involved in money laundering.

They started monitoring his movements since his transfer to Bukit Aman’s Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) early this year.

The division’s principal assistant director, Senior Assistant Commissioner Roslee Chik, told the New Straits Times that he was alerted about the arrest of the officer, whom he had considered his “right-hand man”.

“At every meeting, including those where he was present, I crack the whip and warn them against working with criminals. I am disappointed, shocked and sad when I found out about his arrest,” he said, adding that the officer was in charge of the division’s operations against gambling, prostitution and underworld activities.

Early this year, it was reported that 60 cops, the biggest number being investigated by MACC in recent times, were mostly high-ranking officers.

The task force, spearheaded by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, comprises senior officials from MACC, Bank Negara, Inland Revenue Board, National Registration Department, Immigration Department, Customs Department, Securities Commission and police.

It was reported that investigators had discovered 30 senior police officers living beyond their means. Many of these senior officers were found to have at least RM1 million or more in their bank accounts.

It was alleged that they had collected bribes from operators of illegal businesses, such as gaming cybercafes, massage parlours and vice dens in the federal capital.

A senior police officer, a datuk, was transferred to the Bukit Aman police secretariat following the investigations. Graft busters discovered more than RM6 million in his bank accounts.

As investigations intensified, MACC seized a Range Rover Evoque (RM400,000), Nissan Skyline (RM388,000), Toyota Vellfire (RM450,000), BMW 7-series (RM800,000) and Mercedes Benz E-class (RM400,000).

In an unrelated matter, it is said that a marketing manager of a government-linked company would be charged today at the Sessions Court with 10 counts of corruption involving more than  RM500,000.

Two more individuals, including a  datuk  from a private corporation, will be charged tomorrow for allegedly falsifying claims involving RM1 million.

They will be charged separately for abetting in falsifying claims in relation to a contract involving the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.

Resource : New Straits Times