KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained five individuals, including the chairman of a government agency, for allegedly exploiting their positions in the disposal of eight plots of land in Penang.
The suspects, aged between their 40s and 50s, include a chairman with a Datuk title, two company directors, a technical manager, and a clerk, TV3 reported.
Sources indicate that the chairman allegedly abused his dual roles as deputy chairman and board member in 2015 to sanction the sale of eight plots of land in Seberang Perai Selatan.
The buyer is believed to be a company linked to one of his associates.
Investigators suspect the land was significantly undervalued during the transaction, causing the government agency to incur losses of approximately RM1.96 million.
The five suspects were arrested separately at the Penang MACC office between 11am and noon yesterday. They are expected to be produced before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court this morning for a remand application.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests, saying that the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for abuse of power.