DG AND DIRECTOR OF GOVT DEPARTMENT REMANDED FOR MISAPPROPRIATING RM900,000 - MACC

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- A Director-General and a Director of a government department have been remanded for five days starting today until February 16, on suspicion of conspiring to misappropriate funds totaling approximately RM900,000.

The remand order against both suspects was issued by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah following an application made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court this morning.

According to sources, both male suspects, aged in their 50s, were detained at 1:00 pm yesterday after arriving to give their statements at the MACC Headquarters in Putrajaya.

“Initial investigations revealed that both are suspected of abusing their power and positions by utilising financial allocations at their workplace, amounting to roughly RM900,000, for personal interest,” a source told Bernama.

“Both suspects are also believed to have submitted false claims and documents containing false material particulars totaling approximately RM60,000 to perform the umrah while attending official matters in Jeddah from January 29 to February 4 last year.”

Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the arrests.

He said that the case is being investigated under Section 18 and Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, and also involves offences under the Penal Code related to the dishonest misappropriation of property and criminal breach of trust (CBT).

-- BERNAMA