Proactive intelligence method increases conviction rates by MACC

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) is upgrading its Intelligence Based Investigation (IBI) which has shown a big impact in solving cases of misuse of power and corruption involving the public interest.

IBI,a proactive method, has seen 95 per cent of convictions with no pending cases.

“The conviction rate using the IBI method has overcome the number of overall conviction in MACC which is 85 percent,” said Intelligence Division director, Datuk Mohd Azam Baki during the closing ceremony of the Intelligence Based Investigation (IBI) course at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy here on Friday.

As many as 11 anti-corruption officers from five countries joined the course this time.

“Through this method, action, orders and handling of intelligence activities are put under the management of the central intelligance at the head-quarters and this will increase the handling and management of high profile cases, sindycates and public interest,” said Azam.

In line with the transformation programme, the IBI method also includes 'undercover' strategy, strenghtened in efforts to increase success rate of cases investigated by MACC.

The IBI method has been in use since the year 2000 which involved high profile and public interest cases.

Apart from that, the IBI method has enabled the government to save the diesel oil leakage which its value has hit RM1 billion in the year 2010.

“This method can be seen in high profile operations such as the Ops Lesen Terbang, Ops Tok Bali, Ops Tekong which involved the misuse of power, leak and misappropriation of diesel subsidy which brings impact to the country.

The Ops Lesen Terbang in 2010 involved falsifying computerised drivers exam results, Ops Tok Bali (2013) focused on misappropriation of subsidised diesel and environment while Ops Tekong (2014) investigated the use of fishing trawlers by fishermen in the East Coast.

“Thus, I am confident if the IBI method which is proactive compared to reactive previously, is strenghtened, will provide a bigger impact to the country,” said Azam.

Commenting on why IBI is used, Azam said, in cases such as subsidiesed diesel leakage, “rarely” would any complainant step forward to provide information.

Thus he said , “ intelligence officers will go to the ground and collect information, investigate.”

“If there is any form of bribery, leakage which can bring effect to the community and loss to the country, a systematic investigation will continue and detailed information will be gathered.

“With a more detailed and systematic information gathering this will also ease prosecution to be made and for intelligance cases which uses this method, the conviction rate is 95 percent,” said Azam.

The IBI concept and method which is used by MACC is also a benchmark which is accounted for in MACC's transformation.

It is also seen as a model example in intelligence unit operation for anti-corruption agencies in other countries.

The explained, that the use of IBI will enable corruption to be handled effectively.

A clear example given by Azam involves neighbouring country Brunei Darussalam.

“Under the two-way cooperation with Brunei, we have aided Brunei using the IBI method in solving several cases. So, I am confident, if this is widely used, it will help overcome cases which involve neighbouring countries and globally,” he said.