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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Musa funneling money to Swiss bank accounts


Did Malaysian AG Block ICAC Probe into Sabah Timber Corruption? ... Sarawak NGO charges Sabah chief minister with funneling money to Swiss bank accounts

Although Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption traced millions of dollars in nominee accounts in a UBS Hong Kong branch to the chief minister of Sabah in 2007 and forwarded the information to authorities in Kuala Lumpur, the probe was allegedly blocked by Malaysia Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, according to a Sarawak NGO.

The Sarawak Report, in an investigation made public Sunday, alleged that the money was passed by Sabah lawyer Richard Christopher Barnes from Chief Minister Musa Aman into the Hong Kong account before it was forwarded in turn to a UBS Zurich account in the chief minister's own name, the report charged.

The entire Sarawak Report document can be found here. It details a long list of transactions between Musa, a UBS Bank official and two of Musa’s associates, with documentation allegedly obtained from officials to back up the story.

Asked to verify the mass of transactions and documents presented by the Sarawak Report, Cecily Chik, senior press information officer at the ICAC in Hong Kong, simply said "We would not comment on questions on operational matters."

However, according to the Sarawak Report, the money in the Hong Kong accounts was ordered frozen when ICAC investigators moved in, but when the three-year statute of limitations lapsed in Malaysia, the funds are believed to have been passed on to the Zurich account and to Musa.

“Those involved blame Malaysia’s refusal to sign a cooperation agreement on the investigation for the collapse of the case and the subsequent release of all the money back to Musa and his collaborators,” Sarawak Report alleged. “That refusal was the responsibility of Attorney General, Abdul Gani Patail, a close relative of Musa’s.”

According to the report by the NGO, the ICAC became involved after another associate of Musa’s, Chia Tien Foh, or Michael Chia, was arrested while attempting to smuggle SG$16 million in cash to Malaysia, sparking the money-laundering investigation, which discovered money flowing in and out of a wide variety of other accounts as well.

A May 25, 2007 letter obtained by the ICAC stated that the UBS account no. 231117 should “hold [the money] on trust for Aman,” the NGO said. Investigators noted that on May 31 2008 the account contained US$29.6 million. The NGO alleged that Musa was paid the money for illegal timber sales.

“A parallel investigation was undertaken by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). However we have learned that inter-country cooperation was blocked by Musa’s close family contact, the Attorney General, Abdul Gani,” the Sarawak Report alleged.

“The ICAC flow chart (below) illustrates how money was coming into Chia’s accounts from companies related to timber production in Sabah and flowing out to accounts being managed on behalf of Chief Minister, Musa Aman, including the one in the name of Richard Christopher.

The ICAC flow chart follows:


The final destination of the funds, according to the ICAC, was Musa's Zurich UBS account. The flow chart tracks money from Chia's accounts into Barnes' holding account and then on into Aman's UBS Zurich account in his own name.

The flow chart shows how money coming in from certain companies into accounts, managed by Michael Chia and his nominees in Hong Kong, was then passed on to a number of British Virgin Island companies including CTF International, Zenique Investment and Blisstop Corp. then back to the UBS Hong Kong account managed by Barnes.

The chart demonstrates that the accumulated money was then passed straight from Barnes into UBS Account No. 230-75069201 in Zurich in the name of Musa Aman.

Investigators noted that on 31st May 2008 the Barnes accounts contained US$29.6 million for account 231117, US$37 million for account 280777 and SG$9.5 million for account 280666. The Hong Kong Account 231117, which had been in existence since 2006, received a US$22.4 million injection of money from another Barnes account, between April 28th and May 31st.

Sarawak Report said the transactions were managed by a UBS client manager who had originally worked at the Singapore branch for HSBC Hong Kong, where he managed Chia’s account until 2006. However, after the client manager moved to UBS, HSBC “reviewed the Chia accounts and requested that they be closed down, owing to the irregularity of such huge sums being channeled through it,” the report noted.

It is unclear whether or not HSBC notified the authorities as they closed the account, the Sarawak Report said. However, the report said, they proceeded authorize the release of the contents of the account, which totaled S$13.4 million and US$7.19 million.

HSBC was reported to have provided a series of cashiers’ orders for millions of dollars made out to Chia, which he was then able to present for payment into his new account at UBS. The cash orders were accepted by UBS, the report notes.

According to the report, much of the money coming into the Chia accounts was linked to Sabah timber traders connected to listed companies in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, with Musa directly authorizing the concessions. Some of the transactions obtained by Sarawak Report name the reason for telegraphic transfers “Deposit For Concession.”

In return, loggers are said to have denuded two large areas of forest supposedly protected by a Heart of Borneo Treaty between the Sabah government and the World Wildlife Fund -- before Musa signed the Heart of Borneo Treaty.

The Chief Minister was accused in the report of “maximizing the squeeze” on Sabah’s remaining forest areas to get as much logging done as possible. Numerous examples of formerly protected areas appear to have been handed out in concessions. One such area was the Protected Forest Reserve in Kuamat Forest, designated to be left untouched until the state slipped through a change in its status in 2007, the report notes.

The Sarawak Report alleges there are numerous further examples of concessions in virgin forest and protected areas that were handed out to cronies. Most of the areas have been clear cut and very little of the wood has been declared through the official channels and therefore properly taxed, the report says.


more.....

48 comments:

  1. Status "Best ever Sabah CEO" semakin tergugat.

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    Replies
    1. Tidak mudah mengugat status KM jika cerita ini tidak terbukti.

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    2. Pesaing Musa yang rasa tergugat sebab tidak tahu isu apa lagi yang boleh digunakan untuk jatuhkan beliau.

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    3. TAKE SR REPORT SERIOUSLY

      When Sarawak Report turns its sight on a corrupt politician the expose will keep coming.... like that on Taib and cronies in Sarawak.

      Keep tuned folks

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    4. tidak pasti sama ada apa yang didakwa adalah benar atau tidak..

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    5. How to take Sarawak Report seriously when their information sources are not clear, they say their info is leaked from MACC, how can they prove that?

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    6. isu yang dimainkan lebih kepada sekadar tuduhan saja kerana tiada apa-apa yang boleh dibuktikan.

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    7. RPK juga mengeluarkan satu artikel yang mendakwa ahli Pakatan Rakyat terlibat dalam rasuah, kenapa tiada sesiapa yang 'take RPK seriously'?

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    8. Mungkin mereka sanggup tutup mata sebelah bila PR yang terlibat.

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  2. Sotong yee kata musang is the "BEST Chief Minister" in Corruption?

    Musang also the only Sabah CM to make Sabah the POOREST in Malaysia!

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    Replies
    1. Sabah sudah miskin sebelum Musa Aman menjadi KM, itulah hakikatnya.

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    2. Keadaan sekarang lebih maju daripada yang sebelumnya la.

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    3. Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Musa Aman menunjukkan kecekalannya dalam membawa kemewahan kepada penduduk paling miskin di negeri ini. Dalam masa kurang setahun, beliau berjaya mengurangkan jumlah penduduk miskin tegar lebih daripada dua pertiga kepada 7,455 dari 24,100 keluarga miskin.

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    4. dan selepas musa jadi KM sabah, ekonomi sabah tambah kukuh...pembangunan makin lancar..

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    5. Yayasan Sabah reserves is almost dried when Musa Aman stepped in, during his term as CM, he has managed to bring up the reserves to about RM3 billion. The Yayasan Sabah would have collapse by now if previous CM continued until today.

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    6. Kalau bukan Musa Aman, kewangan Yayasan Sabah sudah lama kering kontang. Jangan harap ada berjuta-juta dalam sana, berhutang-hutang mungkin adalah.

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  3. Dulu SAPP sambut CM Musa anggap 'best friend' rapat pada mana saja jamuan oleh YTL masa bersama BN.

    Sekarang dah tukar pikiran sambil berkata-kata Musa itu 'Best CM ?' bila SAPP jadi parti membangkang!

    Memang paling hebat sekali YTL 'berkahwan-kawan' tapi kurang hati berkahwin bah biar PBS dulu sampai sikarang.

    Pakatannya dari TYT selepas'90,KM2,tokoh2 termasuk PBS,parti-parti lain macam USNO sampai Mahathir,Paklah ataupun tokoh2 UMNO/BN Sabah beliau pandai senyum "berkawan".

    Jadi siapa "Best of Best"?Ada 'sideburn' bukan main?

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    Replies
    1. YTL is just an two-faced opportunist, they told PKR they support Anwar to be PM, but turn around and tell the Sabahans to reject Peninsula party.

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    2. SAPP better change your president, you guys don't need YTL. Even Melanie Chia can be a better president than YTL. Believe me, SAPP is better off without YTL.

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    3. Siapa ni sabahan ko ponya IQ=EQ=telur

      Biarpon Melanie Chia jadi Presiden tapi Penasihat SAPP juga dipegang YTL.

      Patui Sabah sampai sekarang masih diperintahkan dan mendengar karajaan UMNO dan kuasa BN dari semenanjung!

      Otak macam ko lebih baik pigi terjun sungai Pitas bah.

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    4. Yong Teck Lee always pretend to have good relationship with other leaders, but his sole purpose is to get what he wants.

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  4. Semakin giat pihak lawan untuk menjatuhkan pemimpin2 BN Sabah. Tidak menghairankan dekat2 PRU ni.

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    Replies
    1. Sekarang ni target lebih kepada Musa kerana ramai yang impikan untuk dapat jawatan KM.

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    2. these allegations are trumped up by his political opponents and desperate individuals

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    3. mainan politik dimainkan dengan lebih agresif disebabkan terdesak dan tertekan PRU13 makin hampir..

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    4. dalam politik ada saja cara yang digunakan untuk jatuhkan lawan..jadi kita perlu bijak menilai.

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  5. Anyone can confirm these allegations? For sure not from Sarawak Report. They are biased.

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    Replies
    1. Not faceless and nameless people who use blogs to serve their political interest

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    2. so far MACC, ICAC, and UBS did not make any confirmation...

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    3. Sarawak Report claims that their information are leaked from MACC,but how can they prove that? Did they break into MACC headquarters to get the information, hacked into MACC system or have some one internal to leak out the info.

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    4. tiada pihak pun yang mengesahkan apa yang dilaporkan ini benar.

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    5. laporan dari Sarawak Report bukan boleh dipercayai sangat.

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  6. seseorang itu tidak bersalah selagi tidak diputuskan bersalah oleh mahkamah..

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    Replies
    1. Just wait for MACC to confirm these allegations.

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    2. ya..seseoang tidak bersalah selagi tidak dibuktikan.

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  7. Musa has kept his silence amid numerous reports of his corruption..if he is innocent, he should come out to deny and challenge his accusers of libel, and this he has not done..it means Najib is protecting him while Najib himself has his hands full with his submarine scandal and the Altantuya case still unsolved. Just vote BN and Umno out and we will see justice prevails.

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    Replies
    1. Even if he comes out to deny these allegations, those who don't believe him never will. He already released a statement that he will not entertain these accusations as his focus is on the people and state.

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    2. There is no need to deny something that is not true to begin with, if Musa Aman is innocent, he does not even have to worry about these allegations, let alone react to them.

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    3. Sokong komen ko ni.Tidak macam YTL atau macai2 beliao hari hari bising pasal SAS sekarang dan suka mencabar Dr Yee dan BN Sabah.

      Dahulu dalam BN senyum dan diam saja dalam Dewan Negeri,betulkah?

      Siapa makan limau dia berasa asam...hehehe.

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    4. Tidak payah membuang masa melayan tuduhan yang tidak berasas, itulah yang pencabarnya mahukan.

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  8. isu seperti ini masih lagi dimainkan, namun kebenarannya tidak dibuktikan.

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  9. Musa dan nafikan hal ini, selagi belum terbukti, Musa tetap tidak bersalah.

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  10. hanya laporan dari SPRM sahaja yang boleh dipercayai, selain itu tidak boleh dipercayai. hingga kini SPRM belum keluarkan apa2 pernyataan.

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  11. Isu lapok yang dibangkitkan semula. Inilah dia isu rasuah yang lama dan dikaitan dengan Ketua Menteri sabah sendiri. Sedangkan isu ini tidak ada bukti yang kukuh untuk mendakwa Datuk Musa Aman. Sedangkan yang kita hairan mengenai kes Micheal chia yang cuba dikaitan dengan Datuk Musa. Sedangkan Datuk Musa tidak ada urusan dengan orang seperti itu. Semua ini cuma cara pembangkang ingin menjatuhkan Datuk Musa sebagai KM Sabah.

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  12. Datuk Musa linked to corruption. I'm not sure why, but for my own opinion this is probably the only certain strategy to topple Datuk Musa Aman. Because we know Datuk Musa is clean with all the personal problems. That is why corruption is linked with Datuk. Because this issue is easily created by their selfishness. But it will not undermine the people's support to him.

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  13. Semua ini cuma permainan yang direka oleh pembangkang untuk menjatuhkan Datuk Musa Aman. Apa yang pasti kita perlulah menilai sendiri mengenai pelbagai isu yang dibangkitkan. Semua ini pasti ada sebab tersendiri yang dibuat oleh pembangkang. Datuk Musa Aman yang mana lebih memberikan yang terbaik kepada Sabah menyebabkan ada pihak yang tidak suka akan usaha dan kejayaan beliau. Bayangkan saja Datuk Musa dapat menyelamatkan Yayasan Sabah daripada bankrupt. Maka kita lihat usaha yang dibuat dan perancangan yang terbaik beliau lakukan. Maka sebagai penduduk Sabah kita perlulah menilai sendiri perkara ini dan jangan memandang satu pihak saja.

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  14. Macam-macam kes yang cuba dikaitakan dengan Musa Aman. Yang sebelum ini pernah ada kes wang haram cuba dikaitkan dengan Musa Aman juga.

    Kalau benar Datuk Musa terbabit dengan kes RM40juta wang haram itu sudah lama Datuk Musa dibawa ke mahkamah kerana bagi ICAC tidak ada yang terkecuali. Namun ICAC tidak boleh buat sedemikian kerana mereka juga ada prosuder sendiri. Hanya keluar dari mulut Michael Chia rasanya itu bukannya bukti kukuh. Jadi tanpa ada bukti ICAC tidak dapat buat apa-apa.

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  15. Yang pasti Datuk Musa telah mengeluarkan kenyataan yang mana beliau menafikan semua ini. Ini cuma permainan politik peribadi semata-mata oleh pihak tertentu. Maka tidak perlu percaya semua ini cuma kepentingan politik dan bukannya tepat sama sekali.

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