KUALA LUMPUR: Five individuals, including a government agency chairman, have been detained over alleged abuse of power in the disposal of land belonging to a government agency under a ministry in Penang.
Those detained comprise the chairman, two company directors, a technical manager and a female clerk.
Sources said the chairman, a Datuk in his 50s, was detained over allegations that he abused his position as deputy chairman and board member at the time to approve the sale of eight plots of land in South Seberang Prai to a company allegedly linked to an associate.
The land was reportedly sold in 2015 at a price below market value, resulting in estimated losses of about RM1.96mil.
The five suspects, aged in their 40s and 50s, were detained separately at the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office between 11am and noon on Thursday (Aug 20).
They are expected to be brought before a George Town Magistrate's Court on Friday (Aug 21) for a remand application.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, when contacted, confirmed the arrests.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.
