Bukit Aman opens criminal probe against Bloomberg over report on Azam
Bukit Aman has launched a criminal investigation against Bloomberg over its Feb 10 report on MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's share ownership.
According to federal police Criminal Investigation Department director M Kumar, the probe followed a police report lodged against the media company yesterday.
He said the Bloomberg article titled “Malaysian Anti-Graft Chief Returns to Stocks After Outcry” contained defamatory statements against Azam.
"Investigation is being carried out by CID's Classified Investigations Unit under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (improper use of network facilities).
"As the investigation is ongoing, members of the public are advised not to make any speculation regarding this case so as to respect the principle of criminal justice in this country," Kumar (above) said in a statement.
Section 500 of the Penal Code provides punishment of imprisonment that can go up to two years, or fine, or both; while Section 233 provides punishment of fine that can go up to RM500,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
In a separate statement, the Kuala Lumpur police said they have received three police reports about articles published online that touched on the MACC and shares ownership limitations for civil servants.
They include two reports that claimed the articles contained false and malicious information aimed at tarnishing MACC's reputation, while another report was made in support of the publication.
The statement issued by Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus, however, did not specify the articles in question.
According to Fadil, police are investigating the reports under Section 500 of the Penal Code, Section 233 CMA, and Section 8A of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, which criminalises publication of false news.
