
Ex-banker among five nabbed in RM11.2mil loan fraud probe
One of the suspects is a former officer from a financial institution.
The bribes were allegedly received as an inducement to approve financial loan applications using falsified supporting documents.
MACC in a statement said the suspects, aged between their 20s and 40s, were arrested between 2pm and 7pm today at the MACC office in Sandakan.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have been involved in corrupt activities between 2022 and 2024, involving the approval of loans worth a total of RM11.2 million to 39 applicants.
Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy said the case will be investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 for accepting bribes as an inducement to perform acts related to official duties.
He said the arrests were the result of a joint effort between MACC Sabah and the Internal Audit Unit of a local financial institution.
A remand application for all suspects will be filed at the Sandakan Sessions Court tomorrow to facilitate further investigations.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
MACC pursues foreign assets linked to Daim
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is seeking to seize and forfeit overseas assets worth RM3bil belonging to the late Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family. The MACC said its Special Operations Division had uncovered offshore assets allegedly linked to the former finance minister, his wife Toh Puan Na'imah Khalid, their family members, and close associates. These high-value assets are located in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, Singapore, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, and several countries in Africa. The findings stem from the MACC's investigation in collaboration with the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC). On June 3, the MACC obtained a restraining order from the Kuala Lumpur High Court under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 for seven assets in the United Kingdom worth RM758mil. It said a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) application is being processed with UK authorities via the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC). Further discussions are also ongoing with the IACCC to ensure effective and proper enforcement action. Applications for restraining orders have also been filed against assets in Singapore and Jersey. The hearings for these applications, covering four bank accounts and investments worth RM1.15bil in Jersey, and 12 bank accounts and investments worth RM540mil in Singapore, were held at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 23 and 25. 'In addition, requests for further information regarding assets in the United States, Switzerland, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Italy, and Japan are being made through cooperation with Bank Negara, the IACCC, and MLA applications via the AGC. This is to facilitate legal and comprehensive action for asset seizure and forfeiture,' the commission said yesterday. Domestically, the MACC seized Ilham Tower on June 5 and filed a forfeiture application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 25 for the property located at Jalan Binjai, Kuala Lumpur. The MACC also recorded statements from Na'imah and her son, Muhammed Amir Zainuddin Daim, on June 14 in relation to undeclared extraordinary assets. A statement from the couple's second son, Muhammed Amin Zainuddin Daim, currently in the United Kingdom, was also taken. All three are main shareholders of Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, which is the majority shareholder of Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and the beneficial owner of Ilham Tower. 'In line with Section 36(1) of the MACC Act 2009, Asset Declaration Notices were served on July 10 to 22 individuals identified as relatives and close associates of the late Tun Daim and Na'imah. This is for the purpose of identifying and confirming ownership of the assets,' the MACC said. It emphasised that the action taken is part of its duty to ensure there is no element of corruption, embezzlement, or abuse of power in the management of the nation's wealth. 'The MACC remains committed to conducting its investigation independently, transparently, and in accordance with the law, without interference or political influence,' it added.


Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
RM1.2 million drug bust in Kota Kinabalu, man arrested
Published on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 12, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Jauteh showing some of the drugs seized. Kota Kinabalu: A 23-year-old local, believed to be part of a drug syndicate, was arrested following three separate police raids around the city, resulting in the seizure of more than 20kg of various narcotics worth RM960,000. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the operation, conducted by the Kota Kinabalu Narcotics Crime Investigation Division on July 4, began with a raid on a condominium. Officers found 790.56gm of suspected methamphetamine (syabu), along with a money-counting machine, a digital scale and drug packaging tools. The following day, a second raid on another rented condominium uncovered 14.14gm of suspected ketamine. Acting on information from the suspect, police then inspected an abandoned vehicle in a parking lot, which led to the discovery of a suitcase containing 12.7kg of syabu, 6.9kg of ketamine and 25 packets ecstasy juice and 10 ecstasy pills. Jauteh said the drugs were likely intended for both local consumption, especially at entertainment venues, and distribution to neighbouring countries. He added that the suspect is believed to have been actively involved in drug trafficking for the past year. Assets worth RM240,000 suspected to be linked to drug activities were also seized, bringing the total value of the seizures to RM1.2 million. The suspect remains in custody and is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. On the narcotic trafficking trends, Jauteh said drugs are typically smuggled into Sabah via sea cargo for large quantities and air transport for smaller consignments. 'This is based on patterns observed over the past five years,' he said, calling for stronger collaboration between enforcement agencies and the public to curb drug threats, especially those involving cross-border smuggling. 'We need comprehensive cooperation from all stakeholders responsible for the movement of goods in and out of Sabah. 'Once drugs enter Sabah, the police can act, but prevention must start before entry,' he said. Jauteh encouraged community involvement in combating drug abuse, saying residents should report any suspicious activities if they are unable to intervene directly. 'Everyone has a role, whether offering guidance or reporting to the authorities. We need united efforts at the grassroots level,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Aug 12 ruling on Naimah's constitutional reference appeal
Naimah Khalid is charged with failing to declare her ownership of companies, several plots of land, and two vehicles. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court has set Aug 12 to deliver its decision on Naimah Khalid's appeal against a lower court's refusal to refer constitutional questions concerning the validity of her asset declaration charge to the Federal Court. Justice K Muniandy set the date after hearing submissions from deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How and Naimah's lawyer, Gurdial Singh Nijar. Naimah, the widow of the late Daim Zainuddin, claimed trial in the sessions court last year to a charge of failing to comply with the terms of an asset declaration notice issued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). She was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 with failing to declare her ownership of companies, several plots of land here and in Penang, and two vehicles. In her reference application, she claimed that Section 30(5) of the Act violated her rights against self-incrimination and to a fair trial. Section 30(5) provides that all persons to whom a notice is issued shall be legally bound to truthfully disclose all information within their knowledge, available to them or capable of being obtained by them. The sessions court dismissed her application earlier this year. Earlier today, Law told the court that Section 30(5) was legally sound, arguing that the provision was designed to compel individuals assisting in graft-related investigations to 'tell the truth'. He added that Naimah – who was summoned as a witness in a probe against Daim – had no right 'to remain silent' in the course of MACC investigations.