Three technicians held over Sabah Water Dept graft

KOTA KINABALU: Three more individuals have been apprehended by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Thursday to facilitate investigations into the Sabah Water Department’s multimillion ringgit graft scandal.

They were the department’s technicians, who were picked up between 7pm and 11.45pm during an operation carried out here and in Lahad Datu on Thursday. A total of RM1.8 million in cash was also seized from the trio.

Their arrest was part of the second phase operation launched by the MACC on Wednesday as its special task force uncovered more evidence on the nation’s biggest corruption case.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests, adding that the suspects had been remanded for seven days beginning yesterday.

On Wednesday, MACC widened its investigation areas to 27 locations statewide and nabbed 19 divisional and branch heads.

The commission also seized RM4.2 million in cash and froze RM3.6 millions in bank accounts belonging to some of the 19 suspects.

They were remanded between four and seven days on Thursday.

Thus far, MACC had arrested 27 people on suspicions of corrupt practices.

Earlier this month, the commission nabbed two senior figures within the department and two others on suspicion of monopolising government projects to rake in millions of ringgit from the RM3.3 billion worth of federal-funded projects to boost clean water supply in Sabah.

On Oct 14, a former top senior officer of the department was apprehended.

Of the five of them, one was released last Sunday, while four others were released earlier this week. Datuk Azam Baki