Penang MACC makes 12th arrest over zakat case

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained another contractor to help in investigation on the misappropriation and criminal breach of trust case involving the Pusat Zakat Negeri Pulau Pinang (ZPP) here.

State MACC director Datuk Abdul Aziz Aban said the 42-year-old female contractor was detained after turning up to give her statement at the Penang MACC headquarters in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah here at 8pm Tuesday night.

"The suspect has been remanded for six days from today until Monday to help in investigation over the case. We believe more people especially contractors carrying out projects for ZPP will be detained soon to help in investigation over the case," he said when contacted by Bernama here Wednesday.

On Tuesday, MACC detained 11 individuals including a 50-year-old ZPP senior officer and three other officers of the agency to help in investigations over misappropriation of tithe money allocated for community development since three years ago.

Seven contractors, aged between 41 and 52 years, were also detained and remanded a week until May 15.

Meanwhile, the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAIPP) would conduct an internal investigation on the detention of four ZPP officers including a senior officer by MACC.

State Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kasim said the internal investigation was to determine whether misappropriation or corruption took place in ZPP.

"The ZPP board members will also meet tomorrow for a relook at the administrative issues in the agency following the detention by MACC and also meet the staff to ensure the smooth running of ZPP," he said. – Bernama