THE chief executive officer and quality management division head of Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) were released by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today after being remanded for 11 days.

The duo, aged 50 and 35, were detained to assist in investigations into allegations of power abuse and corruption involving high-ranking ZPP officials and contractors.

Magistrate Muna Maria Azmi granted the release at the George Town court complex this morning. The duo are now on a RM20,000 MACC bond each.

The court also allowed the release of three other ZPP officials, who were picked up on Tuesday to assist in investigations, each with a RM10,000 MACC bond with one surety.

Several others who were picked up had already been released on different days by MACC.

On Sunday, two other ZPP officers, who were detained together with the CEO on May 9 at their office a Bandar Perda in Bukit Mertajam, were released.

The eight contractors arrested over their allegedly involved in the scandal were released on different days over the last weekend andon Monday on a RM5,000 bond each.

Early last week, following the first arrests, Aziz told the media that preliminary investigations had shown that the individuals had misused funds worth up to millions of ringgit 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.

It was reported that MACC had been speaking to ZPP board chairman Mohd Salleh Man, who is also Permatang Pasir assemblyman and Penang Islamic Council president, to assist in the probe. – May 19, 2017.