SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a civil servant here on suspicion of abusing his position by recommending two ineligible family members as recipients of Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ).
It was understood that the male suspect, in his 50s, was arrested at about 9.50am on Monday when he appeared to give a statement at the MACC office here.
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Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect is believed to have committed the offence in 2022, with the houses built under the names of his father-in-law and brother-in-law completed in 2023.
However, checks found that as of 2025, the houses had yet to be occupied, raising doubts over the recipients’ eligibility and potentially affecting the objective of the assistance programme.
Sabah MACC director Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah confirmed the arrest when contacted, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and the suspect is expected to be charged at the Sandakan Sessions Court soon.
