KOTA KINABALU: The remand of Hamid Apdal, the brother of Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal, was today extended by five days to assist in a probe into an alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion of federal funds.

Hamid’s son-in-law, Manzur Hussein Awal Khan, a businessman, was also today remanded for five days following his arrest the day before.

Magistrate Afiq Agoes made both orders after considering arguments from both the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and lawyers for the two.

Martin Tommy, Hamid’s lead counsel, said his client, said to be a member of Umno and a former car salesman, told reporters the court had granted leave for Hamid to be taken to a private hospital for treatment.

Tommy declined to specify Hamid’s health problem.

Rustam Sanip and Rozanna Abdul Hadi appeared for the MACC during both remand hearings.

Both Hamid and Manzur Hussein are being investigated under Section 17(A) of the MACC Act.

Hamid, 52, was arrested at the MACC office here on Oct 10.

The remand of Manzur Hussein brings to eight the total number of people remanded in connection with the case.

The other six are Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony, Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman, Tenom Umno Youth head Jamawi Jaafar, Tawau Umno Youth leader Ariffin Kassim, local businessman Yu Sin Kong and a former deputy undersecretary of the rural and regional development ministry, who was remanded in Putrajaya.

Anthony and Yu have already been released on bail after serving two remand orders.

It was earlier reported that 350 projects under the ministry are being scrutinised by the MACC over allegations of embezzlement involving RM1.5 billion funds allocated for various rural development projects in the state. But the MACC has narrowed down its scrutiny to some 70 projects.

These projects were planned to be carried out between 2009 and 2015 in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Kota Belud, Ranau, Beaufort, Keningau, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan.

The RM1.5 billion was said to be part of RM7.5 billion allocated for water, electricity and road infrastructure development projects.

Some RM170 million in bank accounts and assets of the companies involved in the projects were reported to have been frozen.

Certain quarters reportedly labelled the investigation as politically motivated to mar the image of Warisan in light of the upcoming general election but Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and MACC denied this, saying the agency operates independently.

Another arrested in RM1.5b graft probe in Sabah

Warisan president Shafie Apdal’s brother remanded for 5 days