Government agency chairman among five remanded in MACC probe over alleged below-market land sale

The Magistrate’s Court in George Town has granted a four-day remand order for five individuals, including the chairman of a government agency with the title of Datuk, in relation to a suspected abuse of position involving a below-market land sale. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) applied for the remand, which was granted by Magistrate Noor Idayu Salim.

The other suspects include two company directors, a technical manager, and a female clerk. They were detained by the MACC between 11am and noon yesterday while they were at the commission’s office to have their statements recorded. The agency chairman, in his 50s, is alleged to have abused his position as Deputy Chairman and Board Member in 2015 to approve the sale of eight plots of land in South Seberang Perai to a company believed to be owned by an associate.

He is also alleged to have approved the sale at below-market value, resulting in an estimated loss of RM1.96 million. MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests when contacted yesterday, stating that the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.