Former army chief and two wives among five detained by MACC in ongoing investigation into military procurement corruption.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has detained a former Malaysian Army chief, his two wives, and two other individuals.
The arrests are part of an investigation into alleged corruption in military procurement tenders.
The former army chief and his wives were arrested after presenting themselves to give statements at the MACC headquarters.
Their detention follows the arrest of another married couple connected to the case a day earlier.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests to Bernama.
He said all five are being held to assist with the probe into army tenders.
“We expect to apply for remand orders for the former army chief and his two wives tomorrow,” said Azam.
“The couple detained yesterday have already been remanded for seven days.”
The investigation widened on Dec 23 when MACC expanded its probe to the Ministry of Defence.
It is reviewing projects awarded through open tenders managed by the Army Responsibility Centre.
The probe escalated yesterday when MACC obtained a five-day remand order for 17 company directors.
They are suspected of being involved in a cartel for army procurement tenders.
The arrests follow an earlier directive from Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He announced the serving Army Chief had been placed on leave pending the investigation’s outcome.
Lt Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman was subsequently appointed as the 31st Malaysian Army Chief.
His appointment, effective Jan 1, follows the widening investigation into military procurement.
