KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not rule out the possibility of initiating prosecution in absentia against businessman Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan.
Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, however, said such an option would be "the last resort" in the event that the authorities have exhausted all avenues to track down the son-in-law of the former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"We have issued an arrest warrant against the person (Muhammad Adlan).
"However, we have yet to decide whether will proceed with prosecution in absentia against him.
"We can initiate prosecution in absentia but this would be our last option," he told reporters after attending the National Anti-Corruption Summit 2024 here today.
The event was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Azam said the commission still believed that the authorities will be able to track down Muhammad Adlan.
"I still believe that we can locate the person or he will return to the country to face the charges," he said.
Azam, last week, was quoted as saying that the commission has prepared several criminal breach of trust charges against Muhammad Adlan.
He, however, said the commission could not proceed with prosecuting Muhammad Adlan since the latter could not be located.
It was reported that police were still waiting for a response on the Red Notice application filed against former prime minister Muhyiddin's son-in-law at the Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the application for Adlan and his partner has yet to be acknowledged by Interpol headquarters, causing a delay in issuing the Red Notice.
Adlan, in a statement from his lawyer Datuk Dr Baljit Singh Sidhu, previously denied MACC's claims that he is not cooperating with its investigation.
Baljit also said Adlan vehemently denied any suggestion that he is not contactable and that he is in communication with the investigating officer in charge of the investigation.