The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a former Malaysian Army chief, his two wives, and two other individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving army procurement tenders.
The former Army chief and his two wives were arrested at about 7pm after they presented themselves at MACC headquarters to provide statements. Their arrests follow the detention of another married couple a day earlier, who are also believed to be linked to the case.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests to Bernama, saying all five individuals are being held to assist investigations into alleged corruption involving Malaysian Army procurement tenders.
“We expect to apply for remand orders for the former army chief and his two wives tomorrow. The couple detained yesterday have already been remanded for seven days,” Azam said.
The arrests come after Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin directed that the former Army chief be placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Following the development, Lt Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman, Chief of Staff at the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters, was appointed as the 31st Malaysian Army chief, effective Jan 1, amid the widening probe into military procurement.
On Dec 23, MACC expanded its investigation to include the Ministry of Defence, focusing on projects awarded through open tenders and managed by the Army Responsibility Centre.
The probe escalated further yesterday when MACC obtained a five-day remand order for 17 company directors suspected of being involved in a cartel linked to army procurement tenders.
