KUALA LUMPUR: Four Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were among the 48 individuals summoned for questioning by police into the disappearance of Datin Sri Pamela Ling, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says.
According to Saifuddin, Ling’s disappearance is being probed under Section 365 of the Penal Code for kidnapping with intent to wrongfully confine.
“We have taken statements from 48 witnesses, of which four were MACC officers involved directly in investigations that concerned Ling.
“The case is still under probe and an investigation paper is being completed by an investigating officer before we submit it to the deputy public prosecutor for further instructions,” said Saifuddin during his winding-up speech on the 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP) in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 20).
RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then raised a supplementary question, asking if the Home Ministry is working with the Immigration Department to determine whether Ling’s passport was detected to have left the country.
Saifuddin said multiple related agencies, including the Immigration Department, had cooperated to probe Ling’s disappearance.
According to Saifuddin, the car with which Ling went missing in Putrajaya, was found at Bukit Kayu Hitam, close to the Thai border.
“The incident happened in Putrajaya, but the alleged vehicle was found in the north.
“Collecting information at the borders will surely require cooperating with the Immigration Department,” said Saifuddin.
Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) then raised a supplementary question, asking about the government’s measures to address the spike in crime recently.
Saifuddin said he does not prefer to generalise the crime issue like Mumtaz, as the data on crime that he possesses indicates otherwise.
“According to my data, for every 10 missing people, nine were found, according to police records,” he said, adding that he is ready to reveal the breakdown on whether the missing individuals were found dead or alive.
On April 9, Ling was on her way to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist an investigation under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. She went missing on the way to the appointment.
Her lawyer lodged a police report the same day.
CCTV footage showed her being abducted by several men in a car, which was later found abandoned in Bukit Kayu Hitam.
So far, no ransom demand has surfaced.
