4, INCLUDING A ‘DATUK’, REMANDED FOR 6 DAYS
They allegedly misappropriated funds amounting to RM40 million
FOUR men, including a “Datuk”, have been remanded for six days to assist in investigations into a case involving misappropriation of government funds.
The remand order, which began yesterday until Sept 19, was issued by magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab Rahman following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The four, clad in MACC lock-up attire and handcuffed, arrived at the magistrate’s court here at 10.35am.
An MACC spokesman said they were detained under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 for soliciting and accepting bribes.
The four were arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday for alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds that were allocated for the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK).
The suspects were the 58-yearold “Datuk”, who is also PTPK chief executive officer, PTPK secretary, 34, PTPK assistant finance officer, 32, and a director of a company.
They were arrested between 4.30pm and 6pm in an operation by MACC.
They were believed to have abetted the 38-year-old director to embezzle funds amounting to RM40 million, allocated by the federal government between last year and this year, to provide skill training programmes for those who are jobless.
Preliminary investigation showed that they had embezzled funds of RM15 million last year and RM25 million this year.
The three PTPK officers had approved 15 companies owned by the director to conduct training programmes.
MACC deputy commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki yesterday confirmed the arrests, stating that the commission was gathering evidence related to the embezzlement.
Azam, who did not deny that more people may be arrested to assist in the investigation, said more witnesses would be called up to have their statements recorded.
PTPK was established in June 2006 under the Skills Development Fund Act 2004 (Act 640) to manage the fund, which was previously run by the same titled division under the Human Resources Ministry.