KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today obtained a four-day remand against Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to facilitate the probe into mishandling of federal funds for Sabah rural development projects.
Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus granted the remand application, then ordered Shafie to be referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 (QEH1) for further medical check-ups due to his unsatisfactory health condition.
The Semporna member of parliament was represented by a team led by Martin Tommy with co-counsels Darell Leiking, Loretto Padua Jr., Cedric Choo, Hamid Ismail and Zakaria Abd Jalil.
Clad in a white button-down shirt, Shafie appeared weak but smiling when greeted as he was taken out of the magistrate’s court by MACC officers.
Asked how he was feeling when approached by the New Straits Times, Shafie quietly said: “I am having hypertension. My blood pressure is 190 over 130. I am still on medication. We will pray.”
The former rural and regional development minister was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib.
Deputy public prosecutor Rustam Anip and prosecuting officer Mohd Faliq Basiruddin represented the MACC.
Faliq said Shafie would only be detained at the hospital if advised by the doctor.
“Otherwise, he will be put up at the MACC lockup,” he said, adding that Shafie’s younger brother Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal, who is Silam Umno chief and Lahad Datu assemblyman, is currently at the commission’s lockup.
Earlier, Balitus had approved a six-day remand order for Putatan Parti Warisan Sabah division secretary and local engineer Amarjit Singh, 47.
Shafie arrived at the courthouse via the back door at 2.10pm in an ambulance from QEH1.
Other Warisan top leaders and members waited outside the court compound as the ambulance transporting Shafie entered.
Those present included Warisan vice-presidents Peter Anthony and Junz Wong; Warisan Wira chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman; and, Warisan Wirawati chief Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.
They sang a birthday song for Shafie, who turned 60 today. Shafie’s wife and their son Mohd Shazwi, 28, were also present to wish him a happy birthday.
Shuryani came armed with three birthday cakes. She then blew out the candles and shared the cake with Warisan supporters.
Shafie and Amarjit were detained by graftbusters yesterday after they were called in to give their statements at the state commission office to assist the ongoing MACC probe into mishandling of funds meant to be used for development programmes for the poor in the state between 2009 and 2015.
The probe revolves around 70 projects pertaining to roads and water and electricity supply in the Sabah interior.
However, Shafie was admitted to hospital at 11.30pm due to high blood pressure.
Since Oct 5, MACC has detained and remanded 11 people, including Warisan and Umno leaders, in Sabah and a former deputy undersecretary (infrastructure) of the ministry, Norhartaty Rahmat, in Putrajaya.
Among those detained in Sabah were Shafie’s two younger brothers — Yusof and businessman Hamid Apdal; Hamid’s son-in-law Manzur Hussein Alam Khan; Anthony; Azis; Tenom Umno Youth chief Jamawi Jaafar; Tawau Umno Youth chief Ariffin Kassim; and local businessman Yu Sin Kong.
Anthony, Hamid and Manzur were also warded at private hospitals during their remand.
Yusof’s remand ends tomorrow while eight others have been released on MACC bail.