KOTA KINABALU, Oct 20 — The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) obtained today a court order to remand 18 out of the 19 Sabah Water Department (SWD) division and district heads suspected of misappropriating public funds in the state’s largest ever corruption investigation.

Of the 18 suspects arrested yesterday, 14 are to be remanded for seven days at the Kota Kinabalu magistrate court, three for four days at the Tawau magistrate court, and one for seven days at the Sandakan magistrate court.

All the suspects are aged between 29 and 59 years.

The 19th suspect was released after having his statement taken today.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki in a statement said that the suspects were arrested in a sting yesterday following the major arrest of the SWD director on October 4.

“This operation was launched following more uncovering of evidence from statements taken from witnesses and documents that were seized,” he said.

In the operation spanning 27 locations of the Sabah Water Department statewide, the MACC also seized RM4.2 million cash from some of the suspects and froze several bank accounts containing a total of RM3.6 million. Procurement and claim documents were also seized and being perused by the investigation team.

“Early investigations also discovered that the suspects, the heads of the department, made between 27 and 30 per cent off the value of contract projects as well as emergency jobs which were awarded to contractors by the department,” he said.

Azam said that the investigation has not yet uncovered any evidence which leads to any political figure in the state or federal government and urged all parties to stop speculating and politicising the issue.

He also said that the case involved a massive amount of documents which needs to be studied before they can hand over the investigating papers to the deputy public prosecutor’s department for further action.

“We are taking this seriously and we guarantee we will do it professionally and transparently without interference from any party,” he said.

The case has so far seen 24 arrests for graft offences including the siphoning money from RM3.3 billion worth of federal projects into some 38 firms belonging to proxy companies.

The director, deputy director, his “Datuk” brother, the Datuk’s accountant and the former deputy director of the department, were all arrested by the MACC and are currently out on bail while the probe continues.

More than RM52 million in cash were seized from the director and his deputy, along with jewellery, luxury cars, land titles and foreign currency. More money was later seized from foreign bank accounts.

The director and his deputy have been suspended from work following the arrest and a new interim director has been appointed to head the SWD.