Five individuals were remanded for four days, starting today, to assist in the investigation into a case where the Sabah government was cheated of gold sale royalties.

The remand order was issued by Magistrate Sasha Diana Sabtu after allowing the application of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The suspects, including a director and account manager of a gold company and a goldsmith, aged 30 to 50, were detained at the Selangor MACC office here, yesterday when they appeared to record statements.

A source said that the suspects are believed to be involved in purchasing hundreds of kilogrammes of gold, worth millions of ringgit, and had presented a sales and purchase record containing false information, to avoid paying the actual amount of royalties to the Sabah government.

MACC Investigation Division senior director, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim, when contacted, confirmed the remand order and said that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency