KOTA KINABALU: A government department director has been arrested by graft investigators for allegedly abusing his position to approve RM6,000 worth of flight tickets for his wife and child, who were not entitled to them.

       The 54-year-old allegedly committed the offence when he was director of a public college in Tawau between 2017 and 2018, according to sources.

       They said the suspect was arrested when he turned up at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Kuala Lumpur office to assist in the investigations at about 9am Monday (Feb 14).

       The probe, the sources said, was being carried out by investigators from MACC's Tawau branch.

       It is understood that the suspect used the tickets to travel with his wife and son to Kuala Lumpur for work several times while his eligibility was only once a year.

       Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrest when contacted.

       He said the case was being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.

       The suspect was released on MACC bail with one surety and would be charged in court in Tawau on Feb 24, he added.