KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today confirmed that it has sent a request for the latest information from the German authorities regarding the seizure of four Bugatti Veyron sports cars, which was revealed by the country's media.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, said on Oct 26, 2022, it had requested information from the German authorities regarding the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) bond funds used to purchase luxury cars in that country.

He said that in light of the recent developments, MACC has also submitted a request for updated information from the German authorities.

Azam also confirmed that it has initiated investigations into the issue since 2020.

"It started when a Mutual Legal Assistance request to Switzerland was made by MACC to obtain information about frozen assets related to the 1MDB case in November 2020.

"This was followed by a meeting with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland regarding the 50 luxury cars involved in the 1MDB investigation in 2021," he said here today.

According to the German daily Bild, the police seized four special edition Bugatti Veyron model cars from a private storage facility in Munich, Germany, linked to the 1MDB scandal.

The supercars seized are part of the exclusive 'Legends' series of Bugatti hypercars, of which only 18 cars were produced under that series.The four vehicles are the Rembrandt edition Veyron, Black Bess, Jean-Pierre Wimille, and Meo Constantini. Each car has a price tag of around US$3 million (RM14.3 million).

"The cars are rarely sold, and usually not sold at public auctions. The vehicles were tracked down and seized by members of the Crime Investigation Department 7, who specialise in white-collar crime," according to German media, Bild.

It stated that the cars were parked at the Motorworld Munich car park during an automotive show.

The 1MDB scandal involved personalities ranging from politicians and bankers to Hollywood stars and has led to criminal investigations in several countries.

It is learnt that MACC and the police were looking into the information regarding the four rare Bugatti Veyron model cars from a private storage facility in Munich, Germany.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain also confirmed that his department is ready to assist in the matter.

"Any assistance required by PDRM will be provided," he told BH.

In 2021, MACC, in cooperation with international enforcement agencies, successfully repatriated 1MDB assets totalling more than RM20.53 billion to the Malaysian government.

MACC stated that the agency is now actively pursuing the recovery of 1MDB funds assets within and outside the country, including in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Last year, MACC successfully retrieved RM23.9 million in proceeds from the 1MDB asset recovery process from August 2023 to Feb 5.

The anti-corruption agency, in a statement, informed that the money and assets were obtained through asset forfeiture processes, including in court, as well as voluntary surrender by five individuals, including RM4.55 million from Amhari Effendi, a former aide to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former prime minister.

In March 2023, Azam then confirmed that the government has successfully recovered over 70 per cent of 1MDB assets involving approximately RM28.3 billion.

It is a significant achievement for the country resulting from the cooperation of MACC, the Finance Ministry, and the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC).

In August, Razarudin said that MACC was expected to carry out numerous seizures related to the 1MDB investigation following the arrest of close associate to Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, Jasmine Loo Ai Swan on July

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/04/1043726/1mdb-macc-requests-info-seizure-4-bugattis-german