Shafie’s remand extended by four days
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah president, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s remand has been extended for four days from Tuesday, October 24 to facilitate the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigations.
Magistrate Cindy McJuce Balitus allowed the application for the extension of the remand for the former Rural and Regional Development minister here yesterday.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rustam Sanip said they had applied for an extension of seven days but was only granted four days.
Shafie was detained on October 19 when he turned up at the MACC Sabah office to offer assistance in investigation into the alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion in federal funds for rural projects in Sabah. He was then remanded four days from October 20.
One of his lawyers, Martin Tommy Durasim, when met after the proceedings yesterday, expressed surprise at the extension of the MACC’s remand.
“I am surprised that the remand has been extended for four days. We didn’t expect that he will get four days extension because he has cooperated fully with MACC.
“He has completed giving all the statements, did all that was necessary, specific documents that MACC asked from him are ready to be handed over to them.
“And, being a member of parliament, he has to attend parliament especially so for the tabling of the budget (on October 27). These are the things we have informed the court and I think the court has considered all this. He has fully cooperated and despite him not feeling well the other day, he actually decided to come to court,” Martin said.
Shafie arrived at the court house at 11.10 am yesterday and was taken to the High Court for the judicial hearing of his revision against his remand issued by the Magistrate’s Court on October 20.
Shafie was seen wearing the orange MACC lock up t-shirt but was not handcuffed. His arrival was greeted by loud cheering from Warisan’s leaders and members who had gathered at the public park outside the court house since 8.30 am.