JOHOR BARU: A retired civil servant has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly acting as the middleman for Johor Baru mayor Datuk Adib Azhari Daud in receiving inducements from contractors.

       Investigation showed that the 60-year-old man was acting as a middleman for the mayor who had been arrested for allegedly taking bribes from contractors as an inducement to approve projects.

       The suspect was arrested at about 9pm at the Johor MACC office on Thursday (Aug 12) to assist in the investigation.

       The case was being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.

       Johor MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias confirmed the arrest.

       The suspect is expected to be brought to the magistrate’s court here for a remand application at 9am on Friday (Aug 13).

       Earlier, investigations showed that Adib Azhari allegedly accepted money from contractors to approve projects while he was mayor of the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP).

       He was the MBIP mayor from Nov 22, 2017, to Nov 16, 2019, before he was appointed as the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) mayor on Nov 17, 2019.