Another businessman held
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday detained another person to facilitate investigations into the misappropriation of rural development funds in Sabah involving RM1.5 billion.
According to a source, the 33-year-old businessman was arrested about 5.15 pm when he went to the Sabah MACC office to make a statement.
The source said the businessman has no political position.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operation) Datuk Seri Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the arrest but declined to comment further.
With the arrest, the number of individuals detained by the MACC, including those being remanded and released on MACC bail so far is eight persons.
Meanwhile, the remand for three politicians to facilitate investigations into the alleged siphoning of federal funds for rural projects in Sabah has been extended for three more days.
Magistrate Mohd Aizat Abdul Rahim made the decision on Parti Warisan Sabah Youth chief Datuk Azis Jamman, 43, Tenom Umno Youth chief Jamawi Jaafar, 43, and Tawau Umno Youth chief Ariffin Kassim, 44.
All the three will be remanded further until next Tuesday after they were detained by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigation on October 10.
The application for the remand order was made by MACC investigating officer Mohd Faliq Basiruddin at the Magistrate’s Court here at 10am yesterday.
They are being charged under Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009.
Azis is being represented by lawyers Martin Tommy, Loretto J Padua, Cedric Choo, Norazmi Alimat, Jaikol Situn and Darell Leiking.
Jamawi is being represented by lawyers Azhier Farhan Arifin, Shahlan Jusri, Arthur Bonnie, Mohd Razali Razi and Jafar Esteben, while lawyer Hamid Ismail is representing Ariffin.
The 52-year-old businessman who has been detained by MACC since October 5 was released yesterday on RM200,000 MACC bail with RM100,000 deposited with two local sureties.
On Friday, Parti Warisan Sabah vice president Datuk Peter Anthony was released on RM50,000 MACC bail by magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus after his remand expired.
Peter, along with Azis, Jamawi, Ariffin, the businessman, Umno Semporna division member Hamid Apdal, 52, and a 40year-old former deputy under secretary (infrastructure) from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry were detained by MACC in connection with the alleged siphoning of federal funds for rural projects in Sabah since 2009.
Hamid is the younger brother of Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.