Anti-Corruption Agency gets prosecution powers - Malaysiakini

The Anti-Corruption Agency has been granted full prosecution powers which will allow the agency to open a case and proceed with it until the matter is brought before the court.

At present, the agency has to refer its completed investigations to the Attorney-General's Chambers to decide on whether the case could be taken to court.

This dramatic change - which will give the agency more bite and do away with the long-held complaints of its lack of independence - was announced today in a brief statement by the ACA in Putrajaya.

The agency said that this new move would allow it to efficiently and effectively investigate corruption cases.

This will also remove the negative perception that it was the AG's Chambers that was delaying the prosecution of high-profile cases involving politically connected individuals.

The new powers will also boost the government's image in fighting corruption.

"Indirectly this will increase the people's trust in the ACA," said the statement.

[More at http://malaysiakini.com/news/85944]