Aman Palestin graft probe : MACC freezes 41 accounts

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin Berhad and several other companies involving funds worth more than RM15 million.

In a statement today, MACC said that preliminary investigations revealed that funds estimated at about RM70 million had been channelled to purposes other than the objectives of the establishment of the non-governmental organisation (NGO).

"The bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin and several other companies were frozen yesterday by the MACC, involving funds amounting to RM15,868,762.00.

"Since the investigation began on Oct 17, MACC has recorded the statements of key witnesses, searched the NGO's premises, and obtained financial and operational management documents for the last five years," according to the statement.

MACC said that the case was being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Last month, MACC revealed that the commission was conducting a probe into an NGO that collects donations for the Palestinian people, following doubts raised by many stakeholders on how the funds collected were spent.

Following that, Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, through a letter dated Aug 24, had instructed the Perlis State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) not to permit the collection of funds by Aman Palestin in places of worship and relevant religious premises within the state.

-- BERNAMA