KUALA LUMPUR: A community leader has been remanded for five days to aid investigations into the misappropriation of compensation funds amounting to about RM455,000.
A source from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the man in his 50s, was detained around 7pm on Tuesday (Jan 21) when he gave his statement at the MACC Bintulu office.
The remand order, effective until Jan 26, was issued by Magistrate Galvin Loo Wei Ling after an application was made by MACC at the Bintulu Magistrate's Court this morning.
"Preliminary investigations found that the suspect, who is also a community leader, is believed to have committed the offence between 2019 and 2023.
"The suspect is alleged to have misappropriated compensation funds provided by a logging company, which were meant to be distributed to the residents of a longhouse related to a logging project carried out on their land," the source said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak MACC director Hasbilah Mohamad Salleh, when contacted, confirmed the arrest and said that the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.
Hasbilah added that MACC seized approximately RM9,500 in cash and a mobile phone from the suspect. - Bernama
