A LAWYER for the former chief of the previous government’s spy agency has accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of acting in a prejudicial manner after it announced the seizure of millions of US dollars on the same day that his client was detained.

Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said the team of lawyers for former spy chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid was “shocked” after discovering that the MACC only began recording statements from their client this morning.

Hasanah, the former head of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), had been remanded for five days from Thursday to assist investigations into the alleged misappropriation of up to RM49.5 million by government intelligence officers.

On the same day, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki announced that the anti-graft body had seized a total of RM27.4 million in US currency from several locations.

“On August 30, MACC held a press conference announcing the seizure of millions of dollars, giving the impression that our client had embezzled the funds,” Mohd Khairul said in a Facebook post today.

“The MACC press conference was prejudicial towards our client, and made without taking into consideration our client’s defence statements,” he said.

He slammed the MACC for not giving his client a chance to defend herself.

Seven other former intelligence officers who were also arrested in relation to the probe, including a deputy director-general of a division in the Prime Minister’s Department, were released earlier today. – September 1, 2018.