CLAIMS by lawyer Shaharudin Ali that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission wanted to question former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein over alleged misappropriation of funds has been refuted by the anti-graft body’s chief, Shukri Abdull today.

Shukri told The Malaysian Insight that he had no knowledge of plans to call Hishammuddin in.

“No, I was not informed. My officers did not tell me. So, I guess it is not true,” Shukri said.

Shaharudin, who is representing former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) director-general Hasanah Abdul Hamid, said this was revealed at 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.

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

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.