Macc Defends Seizure Of Bersatu Bank Accounts

---

 


MACC today defended its seizure of Bersatu bank accounts, saying that the action was taken according to Section 50(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amlatfapuaa) 2001.
The agency's director of Legal and Prosecution Division, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the accounts were seized by MACC because they were connected to investigation and prosecution, and thus cannot be released until the trial is concluded.
"Section 50(1) stipulates the seizure of movable property in financial institutions, and in this case, the deputy public prosecutor was using his power to order for such assets to be seized and for the financial institutions not to release or dispose of the properties until the order is changed or rescinded.
"Thus, the time period for seizure of the assets in question has been clearly stated in Section 52A of the same Act.
"It says that any order to seize (assets) under this Act shall stop being in force after 12 months from the date it was seized if the person against whom the order was made is not charged with an offence under this Act," he said in a statement today.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin YassinShaharuddin was commenting on a statement by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday, who said the party was mulling legal action against MACC for freezing its bank accounts.
Last year, MACC froze and later seized several bank accounts that were linked to Bersatu.
The former prime minister claimed that it was unlawful for MACC to continue blocking Bersatu's access to the accounts for more than 12 months.
Shahruddin added: "I hope the public would understand that all actions taken by authorities in this case were made according to the law.
"And for the accused, they have every opportunity to defend and prove their innocence according to the law.” - Mkini

---