Retired municipal council president held in graft probe

PETALING JAYA: A retired municipal council president, who is a Datuk, is the latest suspect to be picked up by antigraft officers over alleged corruption and abuse of power.

The 63yearold former senior civil servant, was detained at his house in Seremban yesterday.

He was said to have used his position to obtain gratification from third parties when in power, including an allexpenses paid holiday overseas and golfing.

It is learnt the alleged corrupt acts were committed between September 2009 and August 2016.

Besides helming the council, the former civil servant was also a former district officer.

Five contractors, aged between 40 and 53, were also picked up separately around the Klang Valley and Seremban during a sting operation by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC).

They were said to have been awarded several projects under the municipal council and district office by the suspect in exchange for kickbacks.

“Checks showed he had gone for a holiday overseas with the contractors in September 2015.

“The allsponsored package included playing golf in Medan, Indonesia,” said a source.

It is learnt a Toyota Camry was also given to him as a gift for his personal use when he was still serving in the council.

The MACC officers found no record of the purchase and suspected it was obtained through corruption. All six suspects would be remanded at the Seremban court today.

The latest arrest showed that the MACC was going all out to nab alleged wrongdoers, regardless of whether they had retired or were still serving.

“We are tracking down and tracing back all those who have been abus ing their position while in power.

“As long as there is reliable information of dubious deals taking place, a probe will be carried out,” said the source.

MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abd Ghani confirmed that a Datuk and five men had been detained over the case.

Simi said the MACC was now tracking down several others to assist in the probe.

“We have seized a stack of documents from the suspects,” he said.