PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency has closed investigations into a former gymnastics coach's claim that a National Sports Council (NSC) officer had tried to bribe her.

The agency found no evidence of Yap Yee Yin's allegations that an NSC officer had tried to bribe her by continuing payments to her after her contract had been terminated so that he could take half of what she received.

She had alleged that the payments were made between November 2005 and December the following year.

In a statement yesterday, ACA investigations director Datuk Shukri Abdull said the agency took the statements of 14 people, including Yap, and found that there was no evidence to show that she had been asked for a bribe.

"We started investigations on Sept 12, 2007. We have tried to identify the NSC officer although Yap never gave us his name.
"We have referred our investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor who has advised us that there is no case on which to press charges," he said.

However, Yap told reporters outside the ACA's headquarters yesterday that it was not an NSC officer, but an ex-athlete whom she had been communicating with.

She said she had given her mobile phone to the ACA, adding that it contained text messages about the alleged bribery attempts.

"The messages in my phone show communication between myself and a former athlete who has a direct involvement in the payment of my salary even after I ended my contract as a gymnastics coach."

She said the ex-athlete was an "outsider" with business interests in sports and not an NSC official.

Besides her mobile phone, Yap said she also gave the ACA her automated teller machine card and bank account passbook. The items were returned to her yesterday.

"I am unhappy with the ACA's findings as the evidence I have given shows attempts to bribe me. I believe there is more," she said.

Yap ended her coaching tenure with the NSC in December 2005 but continued receiving the monthly RM1,300 fee in her bank account until the following December.

She said the person trying to bribe her had asked her to accept the continued payments in exchange for a RM650 cut.

Yap, who is still keeping the overpaid salaries in her account, said she has not touched the money and was keeping it as evidence for the ACA.

"I am told that the Youth and Sports Ministry will contact me if they want the money back, but to date they have not called me."

Yap also said her signature had been forged on documents to extend the contract.

Shukri said the matter of forged signatures should be investigated by the police as the offence came under the Penal Code.

"The ACA has referred this aspect to the police," he said.

He also said the ACA had written to the ministry requesting them to improve any faults in the salary payment system for contract coaches.

Yap, who came to the ACA office accompanied by members of anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Gerak, said she would discuss the next course of action with Gerak's lawyers to expose the alleged corruption.