We have identified the politician and witnesses, says director

By LOURDES CHARLES STAR 4/03/2007

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency has begun investigating the senior politician who allegedly accepted more than RM5mil to assist in freeing several suspects detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

Its director of investigations Mohd Shukri Abdul said they have identified the politician and also the witnesses allegedly involved.

“We started our investigations last week following information received from the public regarding the freeing of the suspects who were held under the EO.

“We are still compiling further information and will be calling all those involved for questioning soon,” he told The Star.

Mohd Shukri said his officers were working closely with the police to ascertain the background of the people involved.

He urged those who may have information regarding the cases to contact the agency.

In Pekan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said nobody was above the law and those who broke it would face action.

The country’s laws did not shield wrongdoers, he added.

“Whoever breaks the law will not escape punishment, no matter what influence

they may use to secure their release,” Najib said.

A criminal was still a criminal and the law would not let him escape punishment even if he used the influence of certain people, he said yesterday after launching a new mobile broadband solution for rural areas by Siemens Networks Malaysia.

He hoped the police would investigate the issue and take action against anyone who tried doing such a thing.

To a question that the investigation involved a person of power, Najib said it was up to the police and they could take any form of action.

Yesterday, The Star had reported Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan as

saying that the police were informed of at least two websites that had posted allegations and details of the politician's involvement.

The police had reportedly arrested the suspects in various parts of the country for alleged involvement in illegal activities, including gangsterism, loan shark activities, vice, violent crime, hijacking and extortion.