KUCHING, April 11: Petronas confirms that one of its junior-level executives has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for suspected graft.
In a statement entitled “Arrest of Petronas’ Employee by MACC” on April 9, the petroleum giant said it is committed to fully cooperating with the MACC in its investigation.
Petronas stated that it staunchly condemns all forms of misconduct among its employees.
“To this end, Petronas has been working closely with the MACC since 2012 and will continue this collaboration to stamp out corruption within the Group,” said Petronas.
Petronas pointed out that it has zero-tolerance for corruption and will continue to leverage its internal mechanisms to prevent corrupt behaviour.
It also stated that its code of conduct and business ethics expressly prohibits improper solicitation, bribery and other misconduct by employees, directors and third parties performing work or services for or on behalf of the companies in the Group.
On April 8, two individuals from Sarawak who hold executive positions in government-linked companies (GLCs) were arrested by the Putrajaya MACC in Kuching to assist with the investigation into projects worth over RM2.3 billion.
The MACC had arrested six individuals in Putrajaya and two in Kuching.
The suspects arrested in Kuching, aged between 35 and 45, were brought before the Magistrate’s Court to apply for remand to investigate the case further.
The suspect who was remanded for two days is the managing director of a university.
Meanwhile, the other suspect who was then remanded for five days is from one of the subsidiaries of Petronas.
Today, both were released on a cash bail of RM10,000 with one local surety each.
According to a source, all eight suspects were arrested by the MACC between 1.30pm yesterday (April 7) and 12.30am today (April 8) as they were suspected to be involved in a project belonging to a GLC with an estimated contract worth RM2.3 billion between 2018 and 2021.
Among the items seized by the MACC were 10 luxury vehicles, cash in different currencies worth more than RM27,000, 50 pieces of jewellery including gold bars, 15 luxury watches, 13 luxury handbags, and had frozen 12 companies and individuals accounts.
The case was investigated under Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the gratification in question or RM1 million, whichever is higher or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both, upon conviction. — DayakDaily
