MELAKA: A former administrative assistant of the Melaka Religious Department has been remanded for allegedly misappropriating funds amounting to RM195,765.75 in 2017 and 2018, which was meant to pay contract teachers.

       The five-day remand order was issued by Magistrate Mohamad Izwan Mohamed Noh at the Magistrate's Court in Ayer Keroh here on Wednesday (Sept 8).

       The 36-year-old suspect was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Tuesday (Sept 7) after he was summoned to assist investigations into falsified documents for claims related to the funds.

       The suspect was working as an administrative assistant in the department's human resources unit at the time.

       The offence is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the offence committed, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.