PUTRAJAYA: A politician who is also a former chairman of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), along with a former Treasury secretary-general at the Finance Ministry, have been remanded for seven days in connection with investigations arising from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the pilgrimage fund.
Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah granted the remand order until Sept 2 following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at a Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Thursday (Aug 27).
Lawyers representing the two individuals said they were being investigated under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009.
Earlier, the two men, both in their 60s and holding the titles Datuk Seri and Tan Sri, respectively, arrived at the court at about 9.30am escorted by MACC officers. They were dressed in orange lock-up attire and handcuffed.
It was reported on Wednesday (Aug 26) that the former TH chairman, who is also a politician, was detained by the MACC to assist in investigations following disclosures and findings in the RCI report on the agency.
A former Treasury secretary-general at the Finance Ministry was also detained in connection with the same investigation.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, when contacted, confirmed the detention of the two prominent individuals to assist in the ongoing probe.
Last Friday (Aug 21), a former TH chief executive officer was detained and remanded by the MACC in connection with the same investigation.
Prior to that, the MACC had detained seven individuals to assist in investigations linked to the RCI.
They included a former chief executive officer of a shipping company, a construction company director, a former company director and four former senior TH management personnel.
The RCI report on TH, which was made public after being completed four years ago, contained 25 key recommendations aimed at improving transparency, professionalism and governance within the institution.
Among the key recommendations was a proposal to bar active politicians from serving on TH's board of directors to prevent political interference.
