MACC ENSURES FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE CORRUPT CANNOT GET OFF THE HOOK

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Family members abetting relatives
involved in graft will receive the same punishment as the guilty party as the
term family members has been better defined under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) Bill.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said
under the Bill, the term family members has been broadened to include spouses,
children, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces and in-laws.

"Under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 (ACA'97), in-laws, nephews and nieces,
cousins, uncles and aunts are not included which makes prosecuting them
difficult," he said when tabling the Bill for second reading in the Senate
Monday.

He explained that the new provisions were included in Clauses 23 and 36 of
the Bill and offenders could be jailed not more than 20 years or fined not less
than five times the monetary value of the bribe or a minimum of RM10,000,
whichever is higher. (US$1=RM3.60)

The penalty also applies to any foreign public official who abuses his
position to accept bribes.

Mohamed Nazri said this came under Clause 22 of the Bill and was something
new and in line with Article 16 of the United Nation's Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC), which was ratified by Malaysia last September.

Besides this, Mohamed Nazri said the Bill also called for the abolishment
of the minimum jail sentence contained in ACA '97, set at 14 days.

However, the maximum at 20 years and minimum fine of RM10,000 remains
unchanged.

On the same matter, Mohamed Nazri said the Public Service Department had
approved the staff strength of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) from the 500 at
present to 900 personnel next year.

The ACA's staff strength would be gradually increased to reach 5,000
personnel in five years, he said, adding this would help the agency increase
efficiency and effectiveness.
-- BERNAMA