Suspected to have absconded, MACC to ask Immigration to freeze passports for Muhyiddin’s son-in-law and lawyer
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be enlisting the Immigration Department to freeze the passports of two men wanted as suspects for questioning in an ongoing investigation connected to a government contract about the recruitment of foreign workers in the country.
One of the two wanted men has been reported to be Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan, the son-in-law of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin while the other is lawyer Mansoor Saat, several news agencies reported today.
Both men are suspected to have absconded from the country in May, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki was reported saying after officiating an anti-graft training course here today.
“MACC cannot divulge information about their destination but what is certain is that they are abroad.
“We suspect they are in a certain state, therefore the action available to us is to ask JIM to freeze both men’s passports if we still fail to get a response,” Azam was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian after officiating a training session for MACC personnel here this afternoon.
The Malay daily reported Azam saying that the drastic move is required to ensure Muhyiddin’s son-in-law and the other man suspected of involvement in embezzling ministerial funds will return to the country and face trial in court.
Both men were previously reported to have left Malaysia three months ago, one on May 17 and the other on May 21.
Azam was also asked if the two men were trying to escape from the law or if there was possibility that they had gone on a holiday or taken a trip abroad for other matters.
“Think about it, if MACC has issued a wanted list, it means they failed to go to the MACC office for their statements to be recorded.
“Therefore there is a possibility that he and the other individual are trying to run away,” he was quoted as saying.
Azam was also reported saying the MACC had tried various ways to get hold of the two suspects, including contacting their lawyers and sponsors, but failed.
He was also asked if MACC will call Muhyiddin to help track down the two wanted men and get them home.
Azam replied that it will depend on the investigation process, and that Muhyiddin will be called if necessary.
Separately, news portal Malaysiakini reported Azam saying the MACC will also enlist the aid of Malaysian police and the Interpol in tracking down Muhammad Adlan and Mansor.
Last Monday, the MACC released wanted posters of both men to help its investigations into projects related to the registration, recruitment as well as biometric storage of foreign workers.
In February, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported that the commission was investigating the award of a contract to the son-in-law of a former prime minister.
The news portal reported that the probe centred around possibilities of power abuse in connection with the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe).
Muhammad Adlan was previously named in news reports back in 2020 as being linked and likely a key player in the contract.
