UTeM lecturer coupled held by MACC freed today

A married couple, both lecturers at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), were freed today after being in remand for five days to facilitate investigation by the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged power abuse.

Magistrate's Court assistant registrar Mohd Anuar Ostadi ordered the release of the male suspect with bail of RM3,000 in cash and RM47,000 without deposit in one surety, while the wife, with bail of RM2,000 in cash and RM8,000 without deposit in one surety.

They were also ordered to report themselves at the Melaka MACC office every month.

The 35-year-old husband, a senior lecturer at UTeM's mechanical engineering faculty, and the 32-year-old wife, a lecturer from the engineering technology faculty, were arrested on Sept 5 when they went to the MACC office to assist investigations under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for using their office or position for gratification.

They were alleged to have proposed to their university's faculty management to select a company belonging to them for the purchase of disposable laboratory items and research services worth RM52,000 between March 2015 and June 2016.

-- BERNAMA