MELAKA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has obtained a seven-day remand order against a farmer to facilitate a widening corruption probe involving RM2.54 million worth of fertiliser.
The 46-year-old suspect was arrested after he presented himself at the state MACC office to record his statement at 8.30pm on Tuesday.
MACC's investigation department senior director Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani confirmed the arrest.
The MACC also seized an Audi A4, which is believed to have been purchased using the money obtained from the illegal fertiliser sale.
The farmer, clad in MACC lockup attire, arrived at the Melaka Court Complex at 10.45am on Wednesday and left the court compound 30 minutes later after the remand order was issued by magistrate Hurman Hussain.
According to sources, the farmer and a 38-year-old Melaka Area Farmers' Organisation (PPK) project manager were involved in a joint venture project for the cultivation of paddy on a 22.2ha leased paddy field in Merlimau, Jasin.
The project manager is believed to have submitted 23 false claims amounting to RM2.54 million involving 56,700 bags of fertiliser last year, which had not been approved by the Melaka PPK’s Screening Board.
The fertilisers should have been claimed by the PPK on behalf of farmers in the paddy farming sector who were participating in the Federal Government Paddy Fertilisation Scheme (SBPKP).
However, the project manager is believed to have re-sold the fertiliser for personal gain.
On Tuesday, the project manager was remanded for six days to assist in MACC’s investigation under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 for providing false claims.
The MACC said that they are not ruling out the possibility of making more arrests in the case.