PUTRAJAYA: Fugitive businessman Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan, who has been on the run for more than two years, is believed to be living the high life in the Middle East.
The son-in-law of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Photographs shared with the New Straits Times show Adlan in the company of several Middle Eastern dignitaries.
The portrait of a Middle Eastern leader is seen in one of the photographs.
The NST learnt that Adlan has been going in and out of the Middle Eastern country for overseas trips, including to Thailand for golf and visits to a shooting range.
The MACC had in the past said Adlan was residing in a country that does not have extradition arrangements with Malaysia.
Adlan, 49, left for New Zealand on May 17, 2023 not long after his father-in-law was hit with several corruption charges.
His lawyer, Mansoor Saat, 70, packed up and left for Jakarta four days after Adlan, and has been on the run ever since.
Mansoor also faces criminal breach of trust allegations related to the National Enforcement and Registration (Biometrics) System (NERS). The project was financed through a RM595 million sukuk.
NERS was meant to enhance national security through biometric data collection. But investigations revealed that almost RM50 million in proceeds from temporary work visit pass collections — funds meant for sukuk repayment — were misappropriated.
MACC had linked Adlan and Mansoor to the case, which they classified under Section 409 of the Penal Code.
In the past, both have issued statements through their lawyers denying they were on the run to escape prosecution.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said the commission began its probe on March 13, 2023 after a complaint was lodged.
“Between May and August 2023, the investigating officer contacted Adlan repeatedly through phone calls, WhatsApp and official letters, requesting his presence at the MACC headquarters.”
He said when Adlan failed to turn up, MACC took several actions, including:
DECLARING him and Mansoor wanted persons on Aug 7, 2023;
OBTAINING warrants of arrests from the Shah Alam magistrate’s court on Sept 7, 2023;
REQUESTING Interpol Red Notices through the Attorney-General’s Chambers and submitting full documentation to Interpol by October 2023;
WORKING with the Immigration Department to revoke their passports between August and September 2023; and,
PROVIDING multiple follow-up submissions to Interpol in 2024 and 2025 as the agency continued its review process.
“These actions demonstrate a systematic and transparent multilateral effort involving local and international enforcement bodies,” Khusairi said.
He said Adlan, when first contacted in May 2023, acknowledged the investigation and told MACC he was in Auckland for personal matters.
He said Adlan assured the commission several times that he would return to Malaysia, even sending messages stating intended flight dates — mid-June 2023, later postponed to July 2023.
“He failed to appear despite multiple reminders, written instructions and formal summonses delivered to both his family members and legal representatives.
“His continued absence and lack of cooperation compelled MACC to initiate legal and international mechanisms to locate him through Interpol and Immigration channels.”
As for Mansoor, the lawyer had said the MACC was aware of his whereabouts and that he had assured the commission that he would to return to the country upon finishing his business.
Mansoor, a shareholder and director of NERS Sdn Bhd, had said MACC sought his help in an investigation into alleged bribery involving government officers in relation to the change of the receiving account for the concession proceeds from the Home Ministry to NERS’ operations account, instead of the scheduled and sanctioned project account.
“I cooperated fully. It took three days. MACC did not show me any evidence to support the allegation of bribery or corrupt practices.”
He claimed he faced relentless harassment and said he would only return to Malaysia as long as he was not being persecuted.
Last Thursday, A-G Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said investigations into Adlan had been completed and instructions for prosecution had been issued.
Kushairi said MACC would support the A-GC’s decision to charge Adlan and Mansoor in absentia.
“All investigation papers and supporting evidence have been completed and submitted to the A-GC. Consent to prosecute was received on Aug 15, 2023.
“The commission’s priority remains to uphold the rule of law without fear or favour, while ensuring all actions are transparent, legally sound and in line with international protocols for extradition and prosecution.”
He said every step, from investigation to Interpol coordination, was executed according to the law and with full transparency to ensure that no individual, regardless of status, was above the law.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
