[UPDATED] I am not on the run: Mansoor Saat

KUALA LUMPUR — Lawyer Mansoor Saat has denied being a “fugitive” on the run from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), claiming that his departure from the country was legal.

In a statement, today, Mansoor, who is also a director and shareholder of foreigners registration company NERS Sdn Bhd, lambasted the anti-graft agency for ostensibly tarnishing his reputation.

“The MACC’s press release dated August 7 has painted me in the worst of lights: that I am running away to avoid prosecution. There is no greater falsehood than that,” he said in a statement today.

“I am not a fugitive. I am also not on the run. The MACC investigating officer, despite knowing the truth, has sought to cast aspersions on my integrity.

“My leaving the country, which was done lawfully, is being turned against me as a sign of guilty conduct. I reject that false narrative with all the forces at my disposal,” he added.

Noting that he is consulting his solicitors on his next plan of action, which includes filing a suit against MACC for the “abuse of power and misfeasance in public office,” Mansoor said that he is “saddened that MACC is being weaponised in such deplorable fashion.” 

“I am being unlawfully implicated and now suffering as a collateral damage because of my business association with (former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s son-in-law) Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan. 

“I believe that there is a political undertone in this entire episode which is very unfortunate. To date, I am at a loss as to why I am being persecuted,” he said. 

He added that when he was contacted by an MACC investigating officer after he had left the country in May for a business trip, he had responded in a letter dated June 3. 

Claiming that MACC has yet to respond to the letter, Mansoor said that the investigating officer had then insisted “on an urgent basis” that he come back during the height of campaigning for the state elections. 

“Following my refusal to come back before the state elections, I discovered (that) my personal bank accounts have been frozen without notice and/or cause and a travel ban has been imposed on me. 

“I am being harassed relentlessly by the MACC officers with threats of vilification and character assassination,” he said. 

Besides that, Mansorr said that MACC had summoned him in March as it required his assistance in investigations on alleged bribery of government officers in relation to the National Foreigners Enforcement and Registration System (NERS). 

“I cooperated fully. It took three days. MACC did not show to me any evidence to support the allegation of bribery and corrupt practice,” Mansoor claimed. 

He alleged that a “senior MACC officer” had also attempted to persuade him to transfer NERS shares registered in his name to a new shareholder of S5 Systems Sdn Bhd, NERS’ operating company at the material time. 

“It was impressed upon me that if I agree to the transfer, my ordeal will be over. A few days after the investigation, I received a letter drafted by S5 for me to effect the transfer of my shares in NERS to S5. 

“It is obvious that what I am going through now is caused by my refusal to transfer the shares.” 

Earlier this month, MACC said that they are on the hunt for Mansoor and Adlan to assist with investigations involving corruption and embezzlement relating to the registration, acquisition, and possession of foreign workers’ biometrics information in a ministry. 

Adlan had subsequently denied allegations that he is a fugitive on the run, with his lawyer, Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, claiming that his client has the right to travel to conduct his business in any part of the world. 

Baljit also said that Adlan had sent a letter to the MACC explaining that he was travelling overseas for business, had given the agency a tentative date of return, and expressed concern that a “witch-hunt” and “finger-pointing” were being orchestrated against him. — August 17, 2023