JOHOR BARU: The High Court here has denied an application by Johor state executive councillor Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi’s lawyers for their client, who has been remanded to aid in investigations into a massive land and housing scandal in the state, to be released from detention.

The team of lawyers, led by Abd Rahim Ali, had filed an application for Abdul Latif to be released before the end of the remand period on Thursday March 16.

They had claimed that Abdul Latif had not been informed of the reason for his remand when he was brought to court on Friday, March 10, and so should be released.

High Court judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak struck out the request, stating that it was not a requirement for reasons to be given.

Abdul Latif was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on March 9 to aid investigations into the land and housing scandal.

Shortly after his arrest, MACC officers seized an array of items at his home in Johor, including 150 luxury handbags, RM41,000 cash and a luxury vehicle.

Abdul Latif’s arrest came after the arrest of six individuals including his son and his special officer by MACC in relation to the same case, which reportedly involved kickbacks of tens of millions of ringgit dating back to 2013.-thestar