Former Macc Chief Questions Agency S Conduct In Pamela Ling Case

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A former MACC chief has questioned the agency's conduct in its money laundering investigation against Pamela Ling, who was abducted near the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya on April 9.
In a statement today, Dzulkifli Ahmad (above) said he was surprised to learn that Ling was called for further questioning at least nine times after MACC had arrested and remanded her.
According to him, the law does not permit law enforcement agencies to do further statement-taking from suspects after they have been released from remand.
"This development warrants serious scrutiny. Once an individual has been arrested, remanded, and has had their statements recorded during the remand period, the law does not permit further statement-taking in the same capacity - unless that individual is reclassified and treated as a witness, and even then, only with the express consent and approval of the deputy public prosecutor (DPP).
“Under the MACC Act and established legal procedure, it is a fundamental principle of due process that the power of arrest should only be exercised when sufficient evidence has been gathered to support a formal charge.
"Arrests made prematurely - at a stage where investigations are still in progress - may not only be unjustified but also risk contravening both the rule of law and the core tenets of justice," said Dzulkifli, who served as the chief commissioner between August 2016 and May 2018.
Emulate Ismail Sabri, Vivy probes
Further, he urged the anti-graft body to emulate its own approach in other investigations, including high-profile cases involving former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and entrepreneur Vivy Yusof.
The Anti-Money Laundering And Anti-Corruption Academy president said Ismail Sabri and Vivy were never arrested by MACC, even though they were suspects in corruption cases and only had their statements recorded by investigators.
In Vivy's case, Dzulkifli added, the businessperson was only taken to court when charges were filed against her.
"The sequence of events in Ling's case, if accurate, calls into question the procedural integrity and legality of the investigation process.
"It is imperative that all enforcement agencies, including the MACC, adhere strictly to due process and the legal safeguards enshrined under the law to ensure that no individual’s rights are violated under the guise of investigation," he said.
ADSAbducted by ‘cops’
On May 2, Ling’s family revealed that the 42-year-old, who is a Datin Seri, was on her way to meet MACC investigators on April 9, where she was supposed to facilitate a money laundering investigation, but was abducted before she could reach her destination.
Her Grab driver on that day claimed that individuals wearing police uniforms stopped his vehicle, forced Ling to exit and allegedly forced him to mark the ride as "completed".
Pamela LingAccording to media reports, Ling was extradited from Singapore early this year on MACC's request, where she was subsequently arrested and remanded.
Ling had also been barred from leaving Malaysia and was reportedly summoned by MACC multiple times for further statement recordings after her release.
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who represents Ling's family, revealed that the victim had filed a judicial review application in the high court challenging the actions of the graft busters.
The filling was done two days before Ling's abduction.
According to Sangeet, in the application, Ling claimed MACC had used its powers to exert pressure on her "to resolve private disputes with her estranged husband, rather than for legitimate investigative purposes".
MACC chief Azam Baki had since denied the claims. - Mkini

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