MACC fighting against time to complete probe
KOTA KINABALU: With just 48 hours before the remand obtained to investigate Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal expires, the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) is speeding up its probe.
The anti-graft busters have just managed to raid his house in Taman Golf View here yesterday after arresting him on Thursday.
“We wish to visit his Kuala Lumpur and Semporna houses too but time is against us,” an MACC source said.
The Star reported on Saturday that the MACC probe on Shafie, who is Parti Warisan Sabah president, has been stalled because he needed medical treatment for hypertension.
He was brought before a magistrate on Thursday and remanded until Monday for investigation on the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil meant for rural development projects in Sabah.
The magistrate allowed Shafie to be hospitalised and was immediately taken to his residence when he was discharged at about 2pm yesterday. It is learnt investigators then took him to the Sabah MACC office for questioning.
The MACC is expected to apply for an extension to Shafie’s remand, according to the source.
Shafie’s lawyer Loretto Padua said Shafie is doing okay and still on medication but will “facilitate the investigation”.
Earlier yesterday, the remand on Shafie’s younger brother, Datuk Yusof Apdal, was extended two days.
A group of supporters carrying Umno flags gathered at the Kota Kinabalu courthouse when Yusof, Umno’s Lahad Datu assemblyman, was brought there.
They chanted “Release Datuk Yusof” and called out to him to stay strong.
Yusof was arrested by the MACC on Oct 17. The investigation is focused on 70 projects, involving the building of roads and the supply of electricity and water, for rural areas in the state. More than 50 people have been questioned since the probe began two weeks ago.
Among those arrested were Shafie’s two younger brothers, Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman, Tenom Umno Youth chief Jamawi Jaafar and his Tawau counterpart Ariffin Kassim, Warisan media representative Armarjit Singh, a 52-year-old contractor, and a 40-year-old senior civil servant in Putrajaya.