The political secretary to the human resources minister was released today from an eight-day remand by the MACC. He was detained to facilitate investigations into the misappropriation of funds allocated to the Skills Development Fund Corporation.

Magistrate Ainna Sherina Saipolamin allowed the 61-year-old man to be released with a MACC bail of RM30,000.

He is the fifth individual arrested by the MACC to assist in the investigations involving the fund misappropriation.

His remand order should end on Oct 7 but the investigations on him have been completed.

He was reportedly arrested after he was present at the MACC headquarters to give his statements at 12.30 pm on Sept 27 and investigations were conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.

On Sept 13, the MACC detained four individuals for allegedly misappropriating government funds worth almost RM40 million which should be channeled to a skills corporation for the purpose of training programmes. 

Those arrested were a chief executive with a "Datuk" title, aged 58, a 34-year-old corporate secretary, a 32-year-old assistant finance officer, and a 38-year-old company director at several locations in the federal capital in a special MACC operation.

However, these individuals were remanded on Sept 14 and were released on MACC bail.

- Bernama