THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s probe into alleged misappropriation of funds by intelligence officers is set to expand to include former defence minister Hishammudin Hussein and two Saudi princes, said a lawyer today.

Shaharudin Ali, who represents former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) director-general Hasanah Abdul Hamid, said this was revealed in the magistrates’ court this morning.

Shaharudin said that a deputy public prosecutor, during his client’s remand hearing today, had used the questioning of Hishammuddin and the Saudi princes as one of nine reasons to extend Hasanah’s remand by seven days.

The other reasons included the MACC wanting to track down the balance of the missing funds and several luxury watches, apart from tracing the movements of and searching his client’s residence.

“What was shocking were two things: Hishammuddin’s name was mentioned as among those who may be investigated by the MACC in relation to Hasanah’s case and seven other MEIO officers. They said they would be interviewing Hishammuddin soon.

“The MACC also said they were tracing two Saudi princes. I have no idea how these people are involved. I’ve been made to understand that the MACC wants to do all of this in the seven days that they asked for.

“Hasanah has denied that Hishammuddin and the two Saudi princes were involved in any way in this case,” he said after the remand hearing.

He added that he had informed the court that the original five-day remand was sufficient.

“The progress of this investigation is slow and this can’t be placed on Hasanah’s shoulders,” he said.

The Putrajaya magistrates’ court this morning extended Hasanah’s remand for a day upon the expiry of her earlier five-day remand order today.

Another of Hasanah’s lawyer, Khairul Azam Abdul, told The Malaysian Insight that the MACC had applied for a remand extension of seven days but was rejected.

Shaharudin, meanwhile, had reportedly said that Hasanah had informed the magistrate this morning that she was only following instructions and orders from the government of the day in her capacity as the director-general of MEIO.

She has been detained under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which prohibits using one’s position or office for personal gratification.

Hasanah was picked up on Tuesday to assist in investigations into the arrest of seven administrative and diplomatic officers from the Prime Minister’s Department for allegedly misusing 14th general election funds.

MACC sources reportedly said Hasanah was being questioned on how her officers had come to be in possession of about US$400,000 (RM1.6 million). Sources said the money was believed to have been given to the MEIO by the previous administration for safekeeping. – September 2, 2018.