majalah militer

F-5E RMAF. (Foto: xairforces.com)

KLS: The stolen F-5E engines are now in Uruguay, Malaysia's Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said today.

He said the police had completed their investigation into the missing engines, which revealed that the engines were taken to MATRA 1 in KL respectively on 31 October and 1 November 2007.

He said they were sent to a premise in USJ, Subang Jaya, on 30 Dec 2007 and 1 Jan last year.

"The military realised the loss only on May 22, 2008 and, when they found out, they proceeded with the investigation and then on Aug 4, 2008, a police report was made"

He added On 4 May 2008, a container carrying the engines was shipped abroad and being traced to Argentina, and from Argentina, the engines were offloaded onto another ship to Uruguay.

Abdul Gani said Interpol was aware of the case, and added that he believed that the United States was also aware, based on the published reports.

He said the decision on whether to charge those involved in the incident would be made "in the very near future".

He also confirmed that only rank and file personnel and not senior military officers were involved in the theft of the two engines

He said that all efforts would be made by the government to recover as soon as possible the two missing engines, last traced to Uruguay.

"We are now engaging into mutual legal assistance procedures with certain countries in trying to get those engines back," he told reporters.

Abdul Gani has also taken questions from KLS:

KLS: Who is the final buyer?
Abdul Gani: At this moment of time, I cannot say it because the investigation for recovery is still on, I would not say that.

KLS: The final buyer is a country or organisation?
Abdul Gani: If I have to answer in positive or negeative, or in affirmative or non affirmative, I've already revealing it, isn't it? Is a very good question, but because the investigation is still on going, the recovery, I can't say it.

KLS: Many people are accusing Iran is the final buyer, so how do you think?
Abdul Gani: Don't you put this into people mouth. I've never heard any people saying that.

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