MACC investigating KTMB Chairman Rameli Musa
Lawyer Americk Sidhu confirms the RM1.4 million cheque was signed in front of him
(TMI) – KERETAPI Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) chairman Rameli Musa is being investigated as his name matches the account that paid RM1.42 million in legal costs to Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown in a settlement with PAS.
A highly placed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source said Rameli, a regular funder and long-time supporter of the Islamist party, is being investigated under money laundering laws as the funds were moved from several accounts linked to him before being transferred to Rewcastle-Brown.
Apart from Rameli, several top PAS leaders, businessmen and a former menteri besar are also being investigated as MACC widens the scope of its probe, said the source.
The source said the transfer to Rewcastle-Brown’s lawyer was not direct, instead, involving the accounts of several parties, including one official party account.
“We’re investigating them all,” the source told The Malaysian Insight.
Rewcastle-Brown has confirmed that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang paid her legal costs in an out-court-settlement of a defamation suit.
Hadi had sued Sarawak Report and Rewcastle-Brown over a 2016 article that alleged PAS took from Umno RM90 million believed to be from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Rameli Musa has been Anwar Ibrahim’s and PKR’s financier since 1998
On Friday, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli named Rameli as the account holder of a cheque for RM1.42 million issued to Rewcastle-Brown’s lawyer.
The Malaysian Insight has sent text messages and made phone calls to the businessman over the last three days, but there has been no response.
Rameli, who used to be Ingress Corp Bhd vice-chairman and Balfour Beatty Rail chairman, was appointed as KTMB chairman last month.
He was also once on the Kelantan Economic Development Corporation board of directors, and had forged a close relationship with Hadi.
Rafizi Ramli revealed that Rameli Musa paid Clare Rewcastle Brown RM1.4 million
The two were recorded together during a trip by the PAS president to Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017.
Last week, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin was among several party men summoned by MACC over the RM90 million scandal.
PAS central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz was the first to be grilled on February 8, followed by secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
The party’s former deputy president, Nasharudin Mat Isa, and current vice-president Husam Musa have also had their statements recorded.
Takiyuddin on February 11 confirmed that the voice in an audio clip claiming that PAS had sought RM2 million from Umno with the knowledge of the Islamist party’s leaders was that of Nik Abduh.
Nik Abduh said the money was for use in the 2016 Sarawak elections, with the aim of bringing down DAP.
It was reported that he mentioned several names in the recording, including Hadi, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, information chief Nasrudin Hassan and Hadi’s son-in-law, Zaharuddin Muhammad.
