PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has defended its decision to investigate a judge over allegations of corruption, saying that it has the authority to do so against any “officers of public bodies”.

       The anti-graft body said Section 3 of the MACC Act defines “an officer of a public body”.

       According to the Act, an “officer of a public body” means anyone who is a member, an officer, an employee or a servant of a public body, and this includes a member of the administration, a member of Parliament or a member of a state legislative assembly.

       “Section 3 of the Act also states that a judge of the High Court, Court of Appeal or Federal Court, and any person receiving any remuneration from public funds, is an officer of a public body,” it said in a statement yesterday.

       The MACC said in line with the principles of separation of power, investigation papers will be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) once a probe is completed.

       “The AGC will decide whether to prosecute or otherwise,” it said.

       The MACC pointed out that it had carried out investigations against judges before and the papers submitted to the AGC for evaluation.

       On the investigation against the said judge, the MACC said it had received a complaint on March 17, followed by two more on April 23 and 27.

       “The investigation is still in its early stages and it involves public interest.

       “It must be pointed out that when an investigation is being carried out against any individual, it does not mean that the person concerned has committed an offence,” it added.

       The MACC said it had to explain the matter as several parties had questioned its authority to investigate a judge.

       Last week, it confirmed that Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is being investigated over allegations of unexplained money in his bank account.

       MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said an investigation paper was opened after reports were lodged.

       Mohd Nazlan was the judge who convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the misappropriation of RM42mil of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

       An article dated April 20 published by the blog Malaysia Today claimed that Mohd Nazlan is being investigated for an unexplained RM1mil in his account.

       The article alleged the money came in during the time he was the group general counsel and company secretary of Maybank.

       Mohd Nazlan had lodged a police report against the blog, denying the accusations which he said were malicious, baseless and aimed at tarnishing his credibility as a judge.