[UPDATED] Police probe Mandiri over suspected unlawful funds

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating Mandiri Development Centre Sdn Bhd over funds suspected to be proceeds from unlawful activities received between 2024 and this year.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said Bukit Aman's Anti Money Laundering Team opened an investigation paper on Sept 10 following a police report lodged after a review of the company.

The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).

Khalid confirmed that two directors of Mandiri Development Centre were arrested at about 3.53pm yesterday at the Police Anti-Money Laundering Unit office in Jalan Tun Razak here to assist in investigations.

"Police will continue to conduct a thorough investigation in accordance with the law against any party suspected of being linked to the case.

"This includes aspects involving the storage, transfer, use, as well as the inflow or outflow of money suspected to be linked to proceeds from unlawful activities," he said.

It was reported that Mandiri executive director Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi and finance director Dobby Chew had been arrested amid an ongoing investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).

Mandiri co-founder Mohammad Alshatri Abdullah said the pair were arrested after they went to police to have their statements recorded as part of the investigation.

He said the two had been cooperating with investigators, including by providing documents requested by police.

He claimed that after learning of the restrictions, they went to Bukit Aman and subsequently approached the Amla unit to seek clarification on the basis of the investigation.

Alshatri said Mandiri's office was also raided last week, during which lawyers representing the company sought clarification on the predicate offence underlying the Amla investigation.