THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or MACC is already investigating corruption allegations implicating Airbus and two executives of AirAsia and is in touch with the UK authorities.
Commissioner Latheefa Koya said in a statement that under the MACC Act “we are empowered, and have jurisdiction, to investigate any act of corruption committed by any Malaysian citizen or permanent resident in any place outside Malaysia.”
Directors and/or employees of low-cost carrier AirAsia Group Bhd (AAGB) and its long-haul unit AirAsia X Bhd have been said to be recipients of a US$50 million (RM204 mil) bribe from European planemaker Airbus SE, according to UK high court documents sighted by FocusM.
According to British prosecutors, Airbus paid the sum between Oct 2013 and Jan 2015 to sponsor a sports team jointly owned by two unnamed AirAsia executives in Malaysia. Airbus allegedly made the payment to secure an order for 180 aircraft.
The documents also said that Airbus employees also attempted to pay an additional US$55 mil to the directors and/or employees of AirAsia and AirAsiaX but were prevented by an Oct 2014 freeze to agents and intermediaries. – Feb 01, 2020
