Three technicians roped in
Published on: Saturday, October 22, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Three more individuals, this time Water Department technicians, have been roped in by anti-graft officials investigating the RM3.3 billion scandal in the department, bringing the total number in custody to 22.The three technicians, two of them based in Lahad Datu and one in Membakut, were picked up Thursday under the second wave of "Ops Water" by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).With the arrests of the three technicians, all of whom were remanded Friday, the amount of cash seized from all 22 people has also increased to RM5.9 million.
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A source from the MACC on Friday said the three technicians were the latest to be hauled up by the MACC to facilitate investigation into the scandal."They were picked up between 4.40pm and 11.45pm on Thursday," the source said. A 52-year-old man was brought to Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus' chamber here where MACC investigating Mohd Faliq Basiruddin applied for seven days' remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for investigation under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act.Balitus granted a seven-day remand.
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Met outside the court, Mohd Faliq said the technician was arrested on Thursday evening at MACC office here.According to him, the investigation will revolve around water projects in Membakut.
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Meanwhile, the MACC also obtained a seven-day remand on another two Water Department technicians in the East Coast.The Lahad Datu Magistrate's Court granted the remand order on the two, who were detained between 7pm and 11.45pm at their respective working place.A total of 90 people have been called in to have their statements recorded since MACC launched the operation on Oct 4. On Thursday, 19 engineers, aged between 30 and 50, were nabbed and remanded for seven days for questioning by the MACC. They were picked up during operations carried out in 27 locations on Wednesday, involving the department's division and district branches throughout the State, among others, Ranau, Kota Marudu, Telupid, Penampang, Sandakan, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu. MACC also froze bank accounts with money amounting to about RM3.6 million belonging to some of the suspects.The latest development brought the amount of cash seized to an estimated RM128.3 million, so far the biggest in the history of MACC.Among other items seized in this case were RM30 million worth of 127 land titles, RM2.74 million worth of luxury cars, branded handbags worth RM500,000, branded watches, jewellery amounting to RM3.64 million and foreign currencies worth RM8.3 million.Last Tuesday, MACC also revealed more than RM30 million had been transferred into the foreign bank accounts held by the director and deputy director in three countries.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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