KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- A money laundering probe against Malaysians abroad can seem a daunting task for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as it has to prove the offence committed in the country involved.
Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed said cooperation would only be given if the suspected case could be proven not politically motivated.
He said although many countries including Malaysia adopted the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that was aimed at strengthening international law enforcement and judicial cooperation, they in turn became constraints in making the cooperation worked.
"We can only get the cooperation of another country in investigating a suspected money laundering case after we can give an assurance that the alleged offence happened in that particular country. Otherwise, legal cooperation is not granted.
"Secondly, there will be no cooperation if the probe is suspected to have a political motive," he said at a briefing entitled "Is the MACC Credible?" organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) here Monday.
He said there were countries which were willing to provide the information required while others made things difficult for MACC officers.
Abu Kassim said it was also difficult for the MACC to investigate corruption offences involving foreign nationals buying properties in Malaysia or Malaysians buying real estates abroad.
"We're bogged down by legislations. The general feeling is that when Malaysians buy properties overseas, they should be investigated. It's not true that we do not want to investigate them, but when it involved another country, technically it is difficult to pursue," he said.
He said in minimising the limitations when carrying out investigations abroad, maintaining rapport with international anti-corruption agencies was important.
"Internationally, we have good relations with anti-corruption agencies in many countries on informal basis, including countries that protect their confidentiality," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed said cooperation would only be given if the suspected case could be proven not politically motivated.
He said although many countries including Malaysia adopted the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that was aimed at strengthening international law enforcement and judicial cooperation, they in turn became constraints in making the cooperation worked.
"We can only get the cooperation of another country in investigating a suspected money laundering case after we can give an assurance that the alleged offence happened in that particular country. Otherwise, legal cooperation is not granted.
"Secondly, there will be no cooperation if the probe is suspected to have a political motive," he said at a briefing entitled "Is the MACC Credible?" organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) here Monday.
He said there were countries which were willing to provide the information required while others made things difficult for MACC officers.
Abu Kassim said it was also difficult for the MACC to investigate corruption offences involving foreign nationals buying properties in Malaysia or Malaysians buying real estates abroad.
"We're bogged down by legislations. The general feeling is that when Malaysians buy properties overseas, they should be investigated. It's not true that we do not want to investigate them, but when it involved another country, technically it is difficult to pursue," he said.
He said in minimising the limitations when carrying out investigations abroad, maintaining rapport with international anti-corruption agencies was important.
"Internationally, we have good relations with anti-corruption agencies in many countries on informal basis, including countries that protect their confidentiality," he added.
-- BERNAMA
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