MACC nabs ex-CEO on suspicion of power abuse, misappropriating RM1.2bil

PUTRAJAYA: A former chief executive officer of a statutory body has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of power abuse and misappropriation of development funds worth RM1.2bil.

The suspect, who is in his 60s, was arrested at 8pm on Wednesday (May 15) night, after he was summoned to have his statement recorded.

The suspect was brought to a Magistrate's Court here on Thursday (May 16) where a two-day remand order until May 17 was issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin.

Sources said the suspect was believed to have abused funds by transferring part of the loan which the agency had received from the Finance Ministry to contractors and consultants that were unrelated to the projects.

“Checks found that the suspect had transferred funds but not to companies that were named in the application for government loans,” the source said.

It is learnt that he had been doing the illegal transactions between 2019 and 2021.

MACC senior director of investigations Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the arrest.

On Wednesday, the MACC remanded two senior officials from the statutory body over the same case.

The two suspects, in their 50s, were believed to have transferred part of the RM1.2bil funds to contractors and negotiators for purposes that were unrelated to the development’s cost.