KOTA KINABALU: Lahad Datu Umno Assemblyman Datuk Yusof Apdal, the younger brother of Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, has been arrested.
Yusof was detained in connection with the graft investigations involving the skimming of RM1.5bil worth of rural development projects.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.
It is understood that he was arrested at about 8pm after entering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office at about 5pm to give a statement in connection with several projects under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry that was headed by his brother between 2009 and 2015.
Sources said that his arrest was part of the ongoing investigation, during which they are expected to call in more suspects.
Another of Shafie's younger brothers, Hamid, was arrested last week and remains in custody, along with his businessman son-in-law.
The investigations are focused on 70 projects involving roads, electricity and water supply for rural areas of Sabah.
The investigations include incomplete projects as well as suspected corrupted practices in the implementation of the project.
More than 45 people have been questioned since the probe began two weeks ago.
This latest arrest brings the total number of arrests to nine.
When Shafie left Umno to form Warisan, Yusof, who is the Silam Umno chief remained with the party.
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