THE MACC had widened the Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) dragnet by detaining three more of their officers today, bringing the total number of people arrested to 15.

The three officers aged between 33 and 49 were taken from their office at about 4.30pm today, Penang MACC director Abdul Aziz Aban said.

He said MACC had also called up three other ZPP officers, a businessman and a contractor for their statements in relation to the probe earlier today.

Penang MACC detained 12 people – four high-ranking ZPP officials including its chief executive officer and eight contractors – last week.

The remand for the ZPP CEO and one senior officer have been extended until this Thursday.

The other two ZPP officials were released yesterday on a RM10,000 MACC bond each.

All the contractors were released over the weekend and this morning on a RM5,000 bond each.

Last week, Aziz told the media that preliminary investigation had shown that the individuals had allegedly misused millions of ringgit in funds by organising programmes before splitting up the profit.

He also said MACC believed the CEO had allegedly received valuables, money, cheques from contractors and suppliers in return for awarding certain projects to them.

Aziz reportedly said the commission would be hauling up more contractors who had projects with ZPP to assist investigation. – May 15, 2017.