GEORGE TOWN: A former Penang Hindu Endowments Board director has been remanded for six days, as confirmed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Penang MACC said it had remanded a special officer to the Penang deputy chief minister for allegedly abusing his position to obtain about RM300,000 in money related to the purchase of a golden chariot.
"Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin allowed the man with a Datuk title to be remanded for six days until Dec 10 after an application was made by MACC at a George Town Magistrate's Court.
"The man is believed to have committed the act around 2019.
"Preliminary investigations found that the suspect and a former deputy chief minister had obtained more than RM300,000 from the special allocation account for themselves.
"The money involved the purchase of a golden chariot from an overseas company in which both have an interest.
"The former deputy chief minister is also believed to have abused his position by approving the granting of medical aid in 2020 amounting to RM50,000 to his allies," MACC said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 5).
Penang MACC Director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah, when contacted, confirmed the arrest of the special officer to the current deputy chief minister.
He said the case was investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and the two individuals under investigation were now prevented from leaving the country until the investigation is completed.
