By Dato G Kumaar Aamaan, Chief Editor & Activist
GEORGE TOWN, 27 March 2025 – Authorities have intensified their crackdown on money laundering activities linked to Mobility Beyond Imagination (MBI), detaining several high-profile individuals, including a Tan Sri businessman, a Datuk Seri property tycoon, and two Penang-based Datuk lawyers.
In a recent operation led by the Anti-Money Laundering (Amla) Division of the Inspector-General of Police Secretariat, these influential figures were taken in for questioning in Penang, Kedah, and Kuala Lumpur.
Two Lawyers Under Investigation
The two Datuk lawyers from Penang were detained over the weekend, with authorities reportedly seizing stock transaction records, real estate documents, and confidential files from their offices. One of the lawyers holds an advisory role in a Penang-based NGO, while the other has connections with European consulates in Malaysia.
Prominent Business Figures in Custody
A Tan Sri businessman, who serves as the managing director of a company awarded multi-billion-ringgit projects in Penang, Perak, and Kedah, has also been taken into custody.
Additionally, a Datuk Seri property tycoon and his wife were detained in Kedah on Tuesday. The businessman, who chairs a Kuala Lumpur-based company, has multiple real estate ventures in Penang, Kedah, and Petaling Jaya.
MBI Connection and Chinese Authorities’ Role
The crackdown is believed to be based on information obtained from Chinese authorities, following the deportation of MBI founder Tedy Teow to China in August last year. Teow was sent back to assist in an ongoing investigation into MBI, which saw many Chinese nationals lose their investments.
Authorities have reportedly traced large sums of allegedly laundered funds to Penang, where the money is believed to have been channeled into major development projects.
Ongoing Investigation
The AMLA division’s investigation is still ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming days. A police statement is anticipated soon as investigators work to uncover the financial misdeeds tied to one of Malaysia’s most controversial investment schemes.
This high-profile case has sent shockwaves across the business and legal sectors, raising serious concerns about financial transparency and corporate governance in Malaysia.