Another Shafie Apdal sibling remanded in MACC probe

KOTA KINABALU: Another younger brother of Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has been remanded as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probes the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil meant for rural development projects.

Datuk Yusof Apdal (pic), the Lahad Datu assemblyman from Umno, was remanded for four days after magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie granted the order following an application by deputy public prosecutor Rosanna Abd Hadi for the commission.

Yusof was represented by defence counsel Edward Paul.

After the brother of the Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president was brought to the court complex at 10.30am yesterday, family members, including his brother Zulkifli, hugged him before he entered the courtroom.

A group of supporters – some wearing T-shirts with Yusof’s image – were seen milling about in the court compound.

Yusof was detained after he turned up at the Kota Kinabalu MACC office late on Tuesday to give his statement in connection with several projects under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry that was headed by Shafie between 2009 and 2015.

Another of Shafie’s brothers, Hamid, was arrested last week and remains in custody with his businessman sonin-law.

The investigation is focused on 70 projects involving roads, as well as the supply of electricity and water for rural areas in Sabah.

They centre on incomplete projects and suspected corrupt practices in the implementation of the projects.

So far, more than 45 people have been questioned since the investigation was launched two weeks ago, with nine arrested as of press time.

Yusof, who is Silam Umno chief, remained with Umno after Shafie left the party to form Warisan to oppose it.