FORMER Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was not charged after graft investigations were completed in 2012 as the Attorney-General’s Chambers then had the policy of not prosecuting cases that involved political donations, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said today.

The AGC then had “decided not to pursue with any charges as they were of the view that the investigation was related to political donation”.

“At that particular time, it was the policy of the AGC (not to charge) any cases related to political donation,” the MACC said in a statement today.

The attorney-general then was Abdul Gani Patail, who held the post from 2002 to 2015.

MACC said it reviewed its files on Musa a few months ago upon receiving new information on his case.

The agency subsequently resubmitted investigation papers to the AGC for review, resulting in 35 corruption charges against Musa.

MACC said it was responding to news reports quoting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had asked the commission to explain why Musa was not previously charged.

It said it had already completed investigations into Musa and had submitted its papers to the AGC then.

On November 5, Musa was charged with 35 counts of corruption involving some RM250 million related to timber concessions awarded to more than 15 companies between 2004 and 2008.

The former chief minister was granted RM2 million bail.

Two days after being charged, Musa lost his legal bid in the Kota Kinabalu High Court to be declared the rightful chief minister of Sabah.

He was sworn in on May 10 after the general election but had allegedly use threats and intimidation on the state governor to force the swearing in. Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal was then sworn in as chief minister on May 12. – November 9, 2018.