LAWYER Michael Persius Ubu has been remanded for seven days from today for graft investigation into a 2014 land deal in Sabah involving the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).

The case is similar to the one for which Sabah exco and Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Peter Anthony has claimed trial to two days ago, when charged with money-laundering involving RM8.75 million. 

Ubu, who was arrested Friday, is among 21 lawyers the authorities have been searching for.

He has been wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) since 2017 for investigations into the Risda land deal that did not materialise despite payment of RM15 million by the agency through his law firm.

The Kota Kinabalu Magistrate’s Court granted Sabah MACC the remand order today.

He has been detained to assist in the investigation under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust.

Ubu, 63, was brought to the court around 9.40am today dressed in MACC lockup clothes.

He was represented by lawyer Zahir Shah. – June 13, 2020.