1MDB investigation team made sacrifices for the country
SHAH ALAM - Recognition needs to be given to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Special Operations Division at the time who were willing to face the difficulties in solving the SRC International Sdn Bhd Scandal and a part of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.
Former MACC Special Investigations Operations Director Datuk Bahri Mohamad Zin said his team gave their highest commitment during the investigation as they had worked none stop.
"If I remembered correctly it was the fasting month. The team worked continuously without caring about the time and the weekends which continued for weeks and eventually become months.
“I am confident what they did was a sacrifice for the country.
"Naturally, it is appropriate for them to be given recognition for the work they had done," he said.
He referred to his team at the time which consisted of MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi, division’s Senior Assistant Commissioner (PKPj) Rosli Hussain (IO), division’s Investigation Chief Tuan Roslan Tuan Mat and banking forensic expert Tuan Yusran Yahya.
He said he was grateful that the officers and staff were committed to the work at the time.
"I would like to thank the others in the special operations division teams that gave their full support," he said.
He explained the investigations on the case that involved the top leadership at the time were not simple however, based on their responsibilities they persevered for the pursuit of truth.
In 2015, MACC investigations into the case were disturbed by the arrest made against several officers and the office was raided by police.
"They were caught and their homes and offices were searched except for Yusran.
“The Deputy Public Prosecutor was arrested at 1am and was in the lockup until late at night for almost 24 hours.
"Looking back at it, the various obstacles we went through, I think of them as a source of my strength.
"The situation at the time was painful with money not being enough and we were faced with slander, thank Allah for my strength and the benefits of the hajat prayers made throughout Malaysia," he said.
Bahri said when the former prime minister was at the reins of power, none were brave enough to advise let alone 'touch' him.
"At the peak of power as prime minister, the deputy who questioned anything were also fired.
“Agency chiefs were were afraid and was willing to do anything that was ordered from the Prime Minister's Office.
"I was one of the first in MACC that was exchanged to another organisation, but not by the MACC Chief, weird wasn't it? What was weirder was that the person who signed my change was given the chairman position of a bank when he retired," he told Sinar Premium.
SRC, a subsidiary company to 1MDB was under observation by Bahri's team when RM42 million of its money was found in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bank account and he was leading the Finance Ministry at the time.
Bahri and another MACC senior officer Rohaizad Yaakob was transferred to the Prime Minister's Office.
He then retired on 2017, due to the disappointment regarding the SRC case however, he returned to duty on May 2018 when Pakatan Harapan took over the Federal administration.
"Agencies such as the police at the time were in chaos, the responsibility to investigate the 1MDB case was not done, on the contrary it struck towards the direction of the officers in the special operations division.
"If you don’t’ believe it, ask the Inspector General of Police (Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar) at the time," he said.
With Najib's conviction, he was confident that Malaysia would once again be a respected country.
While describing the sentence as not choosing sides, Bahri stated that the country's judicial system was no longer contaminated or influenced by anyone.
At the same time, he shared on his latest developments where he now spends more time in agricultural activities in Terengganu.
"I have become a full time farmer, there were many offers for work after retiring.
The first and second offer was in politics, but I am afraid of accepting it because it is not my expertise," he said.
