THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will pursue investigations into a former Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) director, who has claimed diplomatic immunity because of his high-profile legal roles.

MACC on Tuesday arrested Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo on suspicion of corruption but failed to secure a remand order from the judge who ruled that the anti-graft body has no jurisdiction to detain Sundra, an officer protected by the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1992 (Act 485).

Sundra is also a judge on the FIFA Ethics Committee. He was appointed last year as one of two deputy chairmen of the committee’s adjudicatory chamber, which has slapped lifetime bans on several football executives named in a sprawling American probe into corruption, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini.

A high-ranking MACC source told The Malaysian Insight investigations would continue, regardless of Sundra’s special privileges.

“Investigations are ongoing and we will continue despite the outcome in court yesterday,” said the source.

He declined to comment on whether Sundra would be called up for questioning.

MACC early this week raided Sundra’s office and questioned the staff on claims he used government funds to induce ministers to extend his contract with AIAC. 

The allegations against Sundra were contained in anonymous letter addressed to the MACC and copied to Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun, Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysian Bar president George Varughese and other senior government officials.

Sundra was arrested on Tuesday night after he turned himself in at MACC headquarters. The next day, he was brought to the Putrajaya magistrates’ court for his remand application which was rejected.

The same day, Sundra resigned the AIAC directorship, which he has held since 2010. His contract was to have ended in February.

Within hours of his resignation, the Attorney-General’s Chambers named his replacement, Vinayak Pradhan, as AIAC acting director.

The A-G in a statement, described Vinayak as “the doyen” of arbitration in Malaysia who is “recognised the world over for his ability, experience and leadership in the field of arbitration”.

The Malaysian Insight is awaiting Sundra’s response to a request for comment. – November 22, 2018.