KOTA BARU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained a former Kelantan International, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) director for allegedly making fraudulent claims totalling to about RM600,000.
According to a source, the 35-year-old former director was detained at his office at the Public Services Department in Putrajaya on Tuesday afternoon by a Kelantan MACC team.
The source said MACC received reports on the alleged false claims made by the former director since holding the position in 2014. The reports were lodged recently.
According to the source, MACC had also found evidence of the alleged misconduct.
It was said that the former director has purportedly used several companies to make the claims.
“Several contractors have been called to have their statements recorded to facilitate investigation into the case. MACC believe that several individuals from the state’s MITI were also involved in the fraud,” said the source.
Kelantan MACC director Datuk Moh Shamsuddin Yusoff confirmed the arrest but declined to comment further as investigation was on-going.
Meanwhile, the agency yesterday obtained a seven-day remand order at the Kota Baru court on the ex-director to facilitate its investigation.
Kota Baru magistrate’s court registrar Noraida Mohd Husin issued the remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The remand order will end on March 21.
Meanwhile, MITI Minister, Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed had said the ministry will extend its full cooperation to MACC in their investigation on this case.
“The ministry believes that all investigation would be conducted fairly and transparently. MITI will provide full cooperation into the investigation,” he said in a statement today.