Malaysian resort execs arrested over involvement in property transfer scam

Due to their involvement in a property transfer scam, two executives from a large Malaysian resort have been placed under arrest by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The company’s identity remained unseen by the media, yet it is a well-known resort in Pahang Province. The original land owned by the state government was transferred to the resort operator, who subsequently constructed a road on the site, prompting the MACC to begin an investigation.

There have been claims that extra ownership transfer processes were accelerated in addition to possible bribes paid by the resort company to the relevant government agency.

As per the report, the resort company was given the property to build on, and a portion of it was designated for a road that would function as the main entrance to the resort.

To help with the investigation into the property ownership change, the MACC has asked the court for permission to hold two suspects, aged 67 and 52, for four days starting last Thursday, January 4. These are senior executives of the resort company who are now being held in custody.

Article 17(a) of the Anti-Corruption Association Act, 2009 serves as the basis for the MACC’s investigation. An earlier image that went viral online revealed a construction project on the route that leads to a popular resort, raising questions, most notably about the potential installation of a toll booth.

The route is not officially classified; rather, it is a private road that is not linked to any toll highways in the area. The local government has said that the toll station idea is unrelated to them. As of the time this story was published, the AGB’s query to the MACC had not received a response.

Original story by: Asia Gaming Brief