The Johor Bahru Magistrates’ Court has issued a three-day remand for Johor Bahru City Council mayor Adib Azhari Daud.
It was reported that his detention was to facilitate investigations into an alleged bribery case.
Yesterday, the court’s senior assistant registrar Mohd Zulhilmi Ibrahim issued the remand order from Aug 11 to 13.
Adib was photographed arriving at the hearing in an orange “lokap SPRM” (MACC lock-up) t-shirt.
MACC arrested the 60-year-old at about 3pm yesterday on suspicion of receiving bribes from contractors to approve projects.
The kickbacks allegedly happened back when Adib was the Iskandar Puteri City Council mayor, a post he held from November 2017 to November 2019.
“A remand application on the suspect will be made on Aug 11 at the Johor Bahru Magistrate’s Court,” Johor MACC director Azmi Alias said.
Adib was apprehended at the Johor MACC office after being questioned, marking the first time a sitting mayor has been arrested for alleged corruption.
The mayor is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. The section stipulates that it is an offence for an agent to corruptly obtain gratification as an inducement or reward for doing any act in relation to one’s principal’s affairs or business.
If convicted, one can be jailed up to 20 years. One can also be fined either RM10,000 or no less than five times the total amount of the bribe, whichever is higher.
The 60-year-old suspect was seen arriving at the Johor Baru Courts Complex at about 9am this morning.