Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has a list of names of local celebrities and business owners suspected of being involved with a money laundering syndicate.
Its Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Azam Baki said they were urged to voluntarily come forward to give their statements to assist the MACC in the investigation into the case.
He said the MACC did not want to speculate on any of these individuals.
“Those who eat chilli will feel the heat,” he said metaphorically, adding that they (celebrities and business owners) might have received funds from the syndicate.
“Therefore, please come to the MACC (voluntarily) because if we ourselves get them to come, it won’t be nice,” he said in an interview programme, “MACC Empowerment and Anti-Corruption Efforts” on the radio channel MACC.fm, here.
Azam said the money laundering involved several offences including cheating, bribery and bank robbery, and the money garnered needed to be ‘cleaned’.
“Those who received the money cannot claim ignorance or say they didn’t know because if we investigate, we will do so until we find out where the money is now or how it was received before they set up business for money laundering purpose,” he added.
On Thursday, Bernama reported that Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed that five police officers were arrested as they were suspected of being involved with a money laundering syndicate.
A celebrity couple had also reportedly given their statements to the MACC in its investigation into the money laundering case.
