KOTA KINABALU, Oct 21 — Three more Sabah Water Department employees were arrested and remanded in court today in the second phase of the massive corruption scandal.
The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested the three technicians working in the department’s separate districts across the state between 7pm and 11.45pm yesterday.
“Today, a seven-day court remand order was obtained for the three to assist in investigations — two were remanded at the Lahad Datu magistrate court while one was remanded in Kota Kinabalu,” said an MACC source.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests.
Yesterday, the department announced the arrests of 19 district and divisional heads of the department, aged between 29 and 59, suspected for accepting kickbacks from federal government contracts.
All 19 are currently under MACC custody while the investigation team continues to gather evidence.
“So far, we have seized some RM5.9 million in cash from the second wave of arrests from these 22 suspects,” said the source.
The case has so far seen 27 arrests for graft offences, including siphoning money from RM3.3 billion worth of federal projects into some 38 firms belonging to proxy companies.
More than RM190 million in cash, valuables and property were seized from the main suspects, making it the biggest corruption scandal in the state.
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.
The director and his deputy have been suspended from work following the arrest. A new interim director has been appointed to head the SWD.
