MACC arrests Sabah NGO president for allegedly misappropriating RM2 million meant for a cultural hall and gallery construction.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Sabah has arrested the president of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the state for allegedly abusing his position by misappropriating RM2 million allocated for the construction of a cultural hall and gallery.
A source said the suspect, a man in his 60s, was arrested at about 10 am today when he turned up to give a statement at the Sabah MACC office.
“Preliminary investigations found that the suspect allegedly committed the offence in 2022 by misappropriating funds obtained from the Ministry of Finance for the construction of a cultural hall and gallery in the state.
“The suspect is believed to have submitted the application and carried out the construction project without the approval of the organisation’s Supreme Council members,” the source said.
Sabah MACC director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah confirmed the arrest when contacted, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and that the suspect is expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Special Corruption Court on Thursday.
In a separate case, MACC also arrested the secretary and treasurer of an NGO for allegedly being involved in money laundering and misappropriating RM5 million in the organisation’s funds for personal gain.
The source said the two suspects, a man and a woman in their 30s, were detained at about 10 am today when they arrived to give statements at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
“Preliminary investigations found that both suspects conspired to commit the offences between 2021 and 2023,” the source said.
Director of the MACC Anti-Money Laundering Division (AMLA) Datuk Norhaizam Muhammad confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).
He said both suspects are expected to be charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, Selangor, on July 29.
