MACC arrests Warisan Youth chief as part of rural ministry embezzlement probe (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Parti Warisan Sabah youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman and two Umno Youth division heads in Sabah were arrested yesterday by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in the probe on the embezzlement of RM1.5 million in public funds allocated for the state's rural development. (the other two are - Tenom and Tawau Youth chiefs Jamawi Jaafar and Ariffin Kassim)
Sources said all three men were held at the Sabah MACC headquarters and in Tawau at about 5pm.
Azis was summoned for questioning by the Sabah MACC late night on Sunday but was allowed to leave and return today at about 11am for the session.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests when contacted but declined further comment.
On Thursday, three others namely Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, an unknown businessman and a senior officer of the Regional and Rural Development Ministry were held in Sabah and here over the alleged siphoning off of RM180 million.
It is estimated that RM1.5 billion of government funds meant for development projects in rural Sabah was embezzled by about 60 firms that colluded with ministry officials tasked to undertake rural development between 2009 and 2015.