KUALA LUMPUR: The government has distanced itself from three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers accused of robbing and extorting bribes from a Chinese national, reports said.
In the report published by FMT, the government, in its defence to a lawsuit filed by Chinese national Gao Kun, said that three officers identified as Fahmee Nor, Azwad Asli, and Haffiz Radzi acted independently and that the raid in question was not part of their official duties.
The government also said that there is no record of any investigation conducted on Gao, and the officers did not have authorization for the raid.
According to the report, the government also asserted its right to seek indemnity from the trio for any liabilities towards Gao, who is a permanent resident under the Malaysia My Second Home programme.
In the lawsuit filed by Gao on May 14, he named the government, the three officers, the MACC chief commissioner, and a politician and his wife as defendants.
In his statement of claim, he alleged that the politician and his wife were involved in a purported raid on his home on Dec 10, 2021.
He claimed the raid was facilitated by a tip-off from the couple, who are close associates of his family.
Gao also alleged that after the raid, the politician's wife visited his apartment, offering to "settle" the matter for RM10 million.
He further claimed that the couple had borrowed RM2.1 million from him around Feb 17, 2021, which remains unpaid, and had repeatedly sought an additional RM10 million loan, which he refused.
In December last year, the three MACC officers pleaded not guilty to charges of gang robbery in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.