This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 30, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid, formerly director-general of Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), has been remanded for five days to assist in investigations into misappropriation of government funds for the 14th general election.

According to Bernama, the remand order was issued by the Magistrate’s Court against Hasanah, 61, under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission  (MACC) Act 2009 for abuse of power and using office position for personal gratification, which carries a maximum of 20 years’ jail if convicted.

She was brought to the court  in handcuffs and orange lock-up attire, the report said. Hasanah was arrested after she had her statement recorded at the MACC headquarters here on Tuesday.

The MACC said initial investigations revealed her case involved seven other senior officials for using the funds for personal purposes.  Of the seven, one is a deputy director-general of the research division of the Prime Minister’s Department, while the rest are administrative and diplomatic service officers.

On Tuesday, it was reported the MACC had secured a five-day remand order against seven senior government officers, believed to be Hasanah’s former officers from the MEIO, for alleged misappropriation of election funds of millions of ringgit.