That was the response of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Minister Hamzah Zainudin on letters he received claiming that MBI International is operating “legally”.
“If they claim they did nothing wrong, then nobody can easily blame or report them to the authorities,” Hamzah told a press conference after KPDNKK’s monthly assembly today.
Hamzah said his ministry would conduct further investigations regardless of the “claims of innocence” by MBI’s members.
It was earlier reported that RM30 million in bank accounts had been seized and frozen in a massive multi-agency swoop in Penang and Kedah yesterday on the money game scheme led by MBI.
Besides RM688,000 in cash, authorities also seized three luxury cars – a Range Rover, a Jaguar and a Toyota Vellfire.
The RM30 million frozen was in a “new” bank account.
On May 29, enforcement officers also raided the M Square logistics centre in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, and M Mall, a shopping complex in Penang where shoppers are allowed to use loyalty reward points in exchange for goods.
The officers seized documents related to the business, information on transactions, computers, branded goods, gold bars and jade jewellery.
This means a total of RM209 million in 98 bank accounts has been frozen following Monday’s raids on a store, a mall, four other outlets and houses of the company.
The founder of the MBI Group was reportedly arrested in the operation coordinated by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) early yesterday.
According to KPDNKK enforcement director Mohd Roslan Mahayudin, the man in his 50s was remanded for four days starting from yesterday for operating the pyramid-type investment scheme.
Cash, cars, and millions in bank account seized from MBI International
MBI founder held, RM32 million in cash and bank accounts seized