In a press conference at Bukit Aman, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said they include three businessmen with “Datuk Seri” or “Datuk” titles, who also controlled companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.

He added that they were among five men and one woman nabbed between July 26 and Aug 15.

“Among those detained were a businessman with the title ‘Dato Seri’ and two with the title ‘Dato’. Each of them controls companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.

“The others included a durian farm caretaker and an accountant,” he said, adding that the suspects were remanded for between four and 12 days to assist in investigations.

Khalid said most of the suspects are believed to have acted as proxies to receive funds sent from abroad. These funds were then channelled for other purposes here in Malaysia.

“It is, as we say, a way of ‘cleaning’ the money. The funds are invested in property, land purchases for farming and other ventures, and later presented as company profits.”

The IGP said the police have utilised provisions under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) to freeze and seize additional assets in their probe.

Khalid said the total value of assets frozen and seized in this round was estimated at RM97.69 million.

“Among the assets frozen and seized were 88 bank accounts amounting to RM10.5 million; 398.8 million units of shares estimated to be worth RM86.8 million from two Bursa-listed companies; RM300,000 in cash; seven luxury cars; five luxury watches; two branded handbags; six mobile phones; and various related documents.

“With this, the cumulative amount of frozen and seized assets in this probe to date stands at RM6.6 billion,” he added.

On May 30, Bukit Aman’s Amla criminal investigation chief Hasbullah Ali said 17 people were arrested in connection with the MBI probe, with assets worth RM3.81 billion frozen and seized.

He said the arrests included entrepreneurs with “Tan Sri” and “Datuk Seri” titles, believed to be proxies and business partners in the fraudulent investment scheme.