Mandiri says directors to be freed tonight

At least 50 individuals from civil society organisations congregated outside the Jinjang centralised lockup in Kuala Lumpur, advocating for the immediate release of Mandiri executive director Amir Hadi and finance director Dobby Chew. The duo are currently under police custody, awaiting their freedom tonight. Hamdin Nordin, a coordinator from the NGO Hayat, informed reporters that representatives from the group have been summoned to the Wangsa Maju police headquarters to sign the release documents.

Nordin expressed hope that the government will not stifle those fighting against corruption while awaiting their release.

The civil society groups have been vocal about the detention of Amir and Chew, condemning what they perceive as the misuse of the remand process. The pair was apprehended on Tuesday under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) after presenting themselves at Bukit Aman's commercial crime investigation department to provide their statements.

Former Bersih chairmen Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria Chin Abdullah strongly criticised the arrest, deeming it an abuse of the legal system.

Police Inspector-General Khalid Ismail had previously stated that Mandiri is under investigation over allegations of receiving funds suspected of being the proceeds of unlawful activities between 2024 and the present year. In response to the detention, authorities have imposed travel bans and frozen the personal and organizational bank accounts of Amir and Chew under the Amla.