JOHOR BARU: Johor executive councillor Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi, who was arrested over the massive housing and land scandal in the state, has been remanded for seven days.
Senior court registrar Nur Sulehan Abd Rahman ordered Abd Latif, 51, to be held until March 16 following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Abdul Latif, clad in orange MACC lock-up attire, was brought by MACC officers to the Johor Baru court at 9.11am on Friday.
He is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 and Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
Shortly after Abdul Latif’s arrest on Thursday, MACC officers seized an array of items from his home in Johor, including 150 luxury handbags, RM41,000 in cash and a luxury vehicle.
The handbags included brands such as Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo and Louis Vuitton.
It is learnt that the MACC had been tailing Abdul Latif for days and keeping track of his whereabouts, prior to Thursday’s arrest.
On Feb 24, Abdul Latif’s eldest son Ahmad Fauzan and his special officer Muhammad Idzuan Jamalludin, were detained by the MACC in a swoop.
Abdul Latif was the Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman and had opted to go on leave pending an investigation into the case.
Following the arrest of his son and special officer, Abdul Latif had kept mum on the matter.
He had also not been seen in public.
About RM15.5mil in more than 45 accounts was frozen as part of the probe. Also seized were 21 luxury cars, five high-powered motorcycles and stacks of documents.
A lawyer, two developers, a contractor as well as another suspect were also arrested in a series of raids.
All seven suspects, aged between 25 and 50, have been released on bail after their remand expired.
So far, the MACC has called in 15 people to have their statements recorded.
