'Datuk Seri' in corruption case involving local authorities remanded

PUTRAJAYA: An Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) executive director with a "Datuk Seri" title has been remanded to assist a probe into misuse of power and bribery involving high-ranking government officials.

The 54-year-old suspect arrived at the Putrajaya magistrate's court at 9.30am Tuesday, accompanied by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, with his face covered with a coat.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Ab Rahman allowed the suspect to be remanded for seven days.

An MACC spokesman said the suspect is being investigated under Section 17(a) and Section 23 of the MACC Act over suspicion of receiving bribery and abuse of power, as well as Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti Money Laundering Act.

The suspect's lawyer, Azizzul Shariman Mat Yusoff, said the MACC had requested for a seven-day remand to conduct further searches at the suspect's house.

"I had asked that my client be set free today as he will cooperate with the investigations, but the judge allowed the remand," the lawyer said.

The lawyer confirmed that the suspect is an executive director in charge of project operations at DBKL.

The suspect was arrested at his office in Kuala Lumpur on Monday at 3pm, in a simultaneous three state swoop by MACC, which also saw two top officers arrested separately in Kelantan and Malacca.

News Courtesy: www.thestar.com.my