JOHOR BARU: Johor Baru mayor Datuk Adib Azhari Daud, who is weeks away from retirement, has been remanded for three days to aid investigations into alleged bribery involving project approvals at the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP).

       The remand order, which was issued by Johor Baru Magistrate’s Court senior assistant registrar Mohd Zulhilmi Ibrahim yesterday, will end tomorrow.

       Adib Azhari was seen arriving at the court yesterday morning wearing the orange lock-up T-shirt.

       In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said he was arrested for allegedly taking bribes from contractors as an inducement to approve projects.

       Under investigation: Adib Azhari (in orange) arriving at the Johor Baru Magistrate’s Court to be remanded. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

       Investigations showed that Adib Azhari allegedly accepted money from contractors to approve projects while he was the mayor of MBIP, it added.

       Adib Azhari, 60, was Iskandar Puteri mayor from Nov 22, 2017, to Nov 16, 2019. He became Johor Baru mayor on Nov 17, 2019.

       Before MBIP was upgraded to a city council, he was the president of the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council (MBIP’s previous name) from Jan 17, 2017.

       MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias confirmed that Adib Azhari was arrested at the Johor MACC office at around 3pm on Tuesday.

       The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act.