KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman holding the title “Datuk Seri” is among six new individuals arrested in connection with the MBI International Group investment fraud investigation.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail confirmed the arrests of five men and one woman aged between 40 and 50 during Operation Northern Star.
He stated that “the latest arrests, involving five men and a woman, aged between 40 and 50, were made between July 26 and Aug 15 by the Anti-Money Laundering Crime Investigation Team (AMLA), Secretariat of the Inspector-General of Police Office, Bukit Aman.”
All suspects were remanded for four to twelve days to assist further investigations into the case.
Mohd Khalid revealed that “three of those arrested are businessmen, one with the title Datuk Seri, and the other two have the title Datuk. All of them have a company listed on Bursa Malaysia.”
Authorities seized and froze assets worth 97.69 million ringgit including over 10.53 million ringgit in 88 bank accounts and 398.8 million share units valued at 86.85 million ringgit.
The seizure also included “RM300,600 in cash, seven luxury vehicles, five watches and two designer handbags.”
This latest action brings the total assets frozen and seized in the investigation to 6.64 billion ringgit.
Mohd Khalid confirmed that “the seizure included a property development company, bringing to nine the total number of companies from the property, plantation and hotel sectors seized under Section 52(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613).”
Investigations now extend to durian orchards covering 7,980.47 hectares across Penang, Kedah, and Kelantan.
The police chief emphasized that “the police are committed to continuing a thorough and firm investigation against any party suspected of being involved in money laundering, whether directly or indirectly.”
He urged anyone with information about illegal proceeds from the MBI case to come forward and assist investigators.
Previous arrests in the case totaled 17 individuals with 3.81 billion ringgit in assets seized before these latest developments. – Bernama
