MACC arrests trio linked to Australian banknote case

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it has arrested three individuals over an Australian banknote supply contract scandal, as an international probe into the case deepened.Two men were arrested in Britain on Wednesday after Australian, British and Spanish police carried out coordinated swoops over alleged corruption involving the banknote-manufacturing firm, Securency International Pty Ltd.The firm is part owned by Australia's central bank.

MACC said the trio were arrested last month after claims emerged that the Melbourne-based Securency International offered bribes to officials in Malaysia."I can only confirm that the MACC has arrested three persons to assist in the investigation. We arrested them about a month ago," MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali told AFP.The arrests were not reported previously.Mustafar said the three were released after being held for questioning and none of them has been charged in court yet. He declined to elaborate on their alleged role in the scandal.

He also declined to confirm whether the trio included a businessman who according to reports paid RM11.3 million (US$3.65 million) to lobby Malaysia's central bank and government officials to use the polymer banknotes.The Australian press has reported that the businessman was hired by Securency International and another banknote company Note Printing Australia between the late 1990s and 2007.

"The investigation is still ongoing," Mustafar said, adding that the probe is in its final stages.

Securency is embroiled in a long-running investigation over claims its agents offered bribes to officials in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nigeria to win contracts, according to media reports.

Securency is a joint venture between the bank and Innovia Films, which helps design and produce plastic-style polymer banknotes known for their durability and for being hard to counterfeit.The company's website says its banknotes have been issued in more than 30 countries around the world, from China to Zambia and Mexico.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/144733