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Covering up: The four Datuks being brought to the magistrate’s court in Putrajaya.
KUALA LUMPUR: The remand for four Datuks, held in connection with alleged graft at Koperasi Telekom Malaysia Bhd (Kotamas) that resulted in RM23mil in losses, has been extended.
Two other suspects, including a woman in her 50s, were released on police bail.
The six were brought to the Putrajaya magistrate’s court yesterday upon the expiry of their initial five-day remand.
Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab Rahman granted a further remand of six days for the four Datuks while the other two were released on RM10,000 bail and two guarantors each.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested the six on Tuesday over suspected graft involving the cooperative.
Sources said MACC officers were zooming in on the wife of a Kotamas board member. She and her husband were among those arrested.
It is learnt the woman was now also suspected of involvement in corruption linked to the writing and publication of books.
An assistant director with a division at a ministry, she allegedly abused her position to secure the deals for herself.
“Initial investigations showed that there were movements of funds between several bank accounts,” a source said. “A sum of about RM300,000 was found parked in the account of one of the other suspects.”
The sum was purportedly deposited into the account of a businessman said to have been the main vendor and sole supplier of products to Kotamas over the past two years.
The source said checks showed that the money was not linked to Kotamas.
“We believe the suspect used her connections with the businessman to transfer the money.
“This was happening at about the same time as the dubious transactions between Kotamas and the main vendor,” the source said.
MACC officers had earlier visited Kotamas’ office and took some documents to help in the probe.
Checks are being carried out on the assets, bank accounts and personal belongings of the officials.
The suspects are also alleged to have abused their positions by registering Kotamas borrowers under a multi-level marketing company.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/06/12/remand-for-four-datuks-in-kotamas-probe-extended/#zYCwlOMxjSZGHpCV.99
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