In cold storage for probing Sabah cases: Ex-ACA boss

Daily Express News

Putra Jaya: Mohamad Ramli Manan, the ex-Anti-Corruption Agency director who brought allegations of corruption against his former boss, has claimed that he was put in "cold storage" in 2000 four his diligence in pursuing cases in Sabah.

Ramli, who was the State ACA director, said that he had been investigating high-profile cases, including that of former Cabinet Minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam, prior to his 78-hour transfer to the ACA headquarters here.

"I was transferred in September 2000 to the headquarters until my retirement last year. I was given non-operational duties. In fact, I was not doing any work at all. It was cold storage because I had been actively investigating cases in Sabah. My last case was Kasitah Gaddam's," he said Friday.

Kasitah is on trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for two charges of corruption.

Ramli also denied claims that he was under investigation for being absent without leave (AWOL) prior to his retirement last year.

A report had quoted an official as saying that Ramli had been investigated for going AWOL before his retirement on Dec 8.

Ramli said his lawyer had sent a letter to the daily demanding an apology.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan said action by former Sabah Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Director (Mohamad Ramli) to openly allege that ACA Director-General Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor was involved in corruption and abuse of power to the media was "not right".

"My advice to him (Ramli) is come forward and cooperate with the police. I am not saying that his action was wrong as he is free to voice out but it was just not right.

"I am studying this case in detail. We are doing our level best fairly," he said, when contacted, Saturday.

Ramli, 56, who retired from ACA last Dec. 8 claimed that other than Zulkipli, he had also lodged reports of corrupt practices of several senior ACA officers.

He added the report against Zulkipli was made in July 2006, under Section 107 Criminal Procedure Code that should lead to police investigation.

Ramli said the reports of corruption and abuse of power against senior officers were made under the Corruption Prevention Act 1997 between 2003 and 2004.

Musa hoped the media would be extra careful in reporting the case and that it would not be sensationalised.

"This is not an easy case and every information is important in determining its outcome. Media please play your role wisely.

"Since this case need to be studied from various angles, the police hope that all parties involved will be patient until it is resolved," he added.

The issue surfaced when the Democracy and Anti-Corruption Movement or Gerakan Demokrasi dan Anti Korupsi (Gerak) in its blogsite stated that former Sabah ACA Director Ramli wrote to former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamed Bakri Omar last year alleging that Zulkipli owned properties beyond his source of income.