I am not a fugitive, says lawyer wanted by MACC

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer Mansoor Saat says that he is not a fugitive despite being wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The NERS Sdn Bhd (Ners) director and shareholder said he left the country lawfully and rejected the narrative that it is a sign of guilt.

“I am not a fugitive. I am also not on the run. The MACC investigating officer has sought to cast aspersions on my integrity despite knowing the truth. I left the country lawfully but it is being turned against me. I reject this false narrative,” he said.

“That press release has painted me in the worst of lights: that I am running away to avoid prosecution,” added Mansoor in a statement on Thursday (Aug 17).

On Aug 8, the MACC said they are looking for the son-in-law of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and another individual to assist the investigation into alleged corruption and misappropriation of a project related to the registration and storage of foreign workers’ biometrics.

The MACC said they are looking for Muhammad Adlan Berhan, 48, and lawyer Mansoor Saat, 69, to assist in the investigation.

Mansoor explained that he was called by the MACC in March this year, adding that his assistance was required in an investigation.

He said the investigation was into the alleged bribery of government officers in relation to the change of the receiving account for the concession proceeds from the Home Ministry to the NERS’s operation account instead of to the scheduled and sanctioned project account.

“I cooperated fully. It took three days. The MACC did not show any evidence to me to support the allegations of bribery or corrupt practices,” said Mansoor.

He added that at subsequent meetings, the MACC officer had indicated that the offence that he had allegedly committed was authorising the change of the receiving account of the concession proceeds from the company’s project account to the company’s operation account and subsequent money transfers from the operation account.

“The officer did not tell me when I would be charged in court. I maintain that there is no offence committed as the transactions were lawfully made and I did not personally benefit,” said Mansoor.

Mansoor stressed that all the decisions made in respect of the NER’s accounts were made in its best interest considering the impact of the Covid-19 on the financial health of the company without affecting its obligations to bondholders and other creditors.