PUTRAJAYA: An accounting assistant from the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) linked to a RM24.8 million criminal breach of trust case allegedly misused the identities of nine individuals to steal the money.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in revealing the modus operandi of the 37-year-old employee from 2016 to May this year, said the government would initiate legal action.
"It (eight years) is a long time. The accounting assistant was cunning.
"When I had a whiff of it, I took action. It was not just based on audit reports. Nine individuals in Kesedar had their identities misused so that this man can swindle RM24.8 million from the agency.
"I have asked the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's secretary-general to take legal action against him.
"He will be suspended from work in accordance with provisions set by the Public Service Department.
"There is no room for compromise.
"I want stern action to be taken because it involves taxpayers' money meant for Kesedar settlers. But this man used them for his own personal interest," said Zahid after launching the Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Roadshow here.
Present was Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
On Saturday, Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the suspect was arrested at his home in Bandar Gua Musang a day after a report was made over the missing funds.
Zaki said Kesedar claimed that the government's money in two funds handled by the agency's finance division went missing between December 2016 and May this year.
Initial investigations showed the suspect transferred the money into his bank account through 194 transactions.
The suspect has been remanded for a week. The case is being probed under Section 408 of the Penal Code.
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