PUTRAJAYA: The total assets forfeited and returned to the Malaysian government last year was worth about RM5.1bil, with 99.57% of it linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

       He said following investigations by MACC, 152 cases of property forfeiture were filed in court, of which 121 cases had been resolved.

       "117 cases or 96.7% were in favour of the prosecutor and four cases (2.2%) were not in favour of the prosecutor," he said when addressing the 2021 MACC media awards ceremony at its headquarters here on Tuesday (June 14).

       Azam said the MACC would investigate any complaints of corruption, even if the amount involved were small.

       "If there is a reasonable reason to show an offence under the MACC's jurisdiction, an investigation paper will be opened and upon completion of the investigation, it will be referred to the Attorney -General's Chambers for further action.

       "Although the decision to prosecute at the discretion of the Attorney General, it will depend on the strength of the evidence from MACC's investigation," he said.

       Azam said the MACC had its own standard operating procedures and could not open an investigation paper solely based from information provided by a blogger or a social media user.

       "If there is no or not enough evidence, the investigation paper will be closed. This practice is to ensure that an innocent person is not persecuted and that the accused has the opportunity to defend himself in court," he said. – Bernama