MACC arrests DID officer, two business owners for corruption

PUTRAJAYA: A director of the Perlis Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and two private company owners were arrested today for abuse of power and corruption involving bribes from work contracts awarded by the department.
Sources reveal that the 60-year-old DID officer had allegedly received kickbacks of 10% for each project awarded to contractors by the Perlis DID between 2014 and 2017. The two company proprieters, who are aged 39 and 50, were held for allegedly abetting the DID official.
MACC investigators recovered RM900,000 from the house of a company proprietor during the operation today. They also seized and froze RM2.9 million found in four bank accounts belonging to the suspects and believed to be gains from corrupt practises.
Sources said the DID officer was found to have led a lavish lifestyle after allegedly gaining riches from the kickbacks.
It is also learnt that the suspect had appointed a third party company to undertake the contracts awarded by the DID.
Investigations showed that he had kept the ill-gotten gains in several personal banks accounts, as well as to accounts belonging to his relatives.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests when contacted.
He said the probe was initiated following a report that was received by the commission, and investigators are perusing a heap of documents that were seized in the operation for further evidence.
Azam said the suspects are in the custody of the Kedah MACC and a remand order to detain them further will be sought from the Alor Star magistrate's court tomorrow.