Warisan Youth chief Azis detained by MACC over alleged embezzlement
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah ( Warisan) Youth chief, Dato Mohd Azis Jamman, was detained by the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) at 5pm yesterday.
Azis presented himself at MACC Sabah Prevention Sector’s office at Wisma 1Sulaman at 10.30am for questioning into the alleged misappropriation of rural infrastructure development funds in Sabah.
Warisan secretary general, Loretto Padua Jr, in a statement confirmed Azis’ detention by MACC.
“Application for remand is tomorrow (today) at the Magistrate’s Court,” Loretto disclosed.
Azis, accompanied by his lawyer Norazmi Alimat, family members and party supporters arrived at MACC Sabah Prevention Sector’s office at Wisma 1Sulaman at about 10 am. He was seen hugging his relatives and posing for some photographs with his supporters, before walking into the building at 10.30am.
He was not seen thereafter and only at 4.45 pm did Norazmi speak to the media informing them that Azis was no longer in the building.
“I went inside to find out the latest development and was informed that my client and the investigating officer( s) were no longer in the building,” he said.
About an hour later, he contacted the media to inform them that he had spoken to Azis and the latter had informed him that he was with MACC officers.
“Azis also confirmed that he was detained at about 5pm,” said Norazmi.
The MACC has arrested three people, including Warisan vicepresident Datuk Peter Anthony, who is a close ally of party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Peter and a 52-year- old businessman have been remanded for five days to assist investigation into the alleged siphoning of funds meant for rural projects in Sabah.
A 40-year- old former deputy undersecretary (infrastructure) from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry was also detained in Putrajaya over the case and remanded for six days until Oct 11.
MACC is investigating how RM1.5 billion was siphoned from a total of RM7.5 billion funds allocated for rural projects in Sabah over the past six years.
Its deputy chief commissioner ( Operations) Datuk Azam Baki said they were investigating some 60 companies that were awarded projects for the supply of water, electricity and roads to help people in rural Sabah.
Meanwhile, a Bernama report from Kuala Lumpur quoting MACC sources said the commission yesterday arrested three more individuals to assist in the investigation into the alleged embezzlement.
Azam when contacted by Bernama confirmed the arrests but declined to elaborate.