KUALA LUMPUR - AN UMNO politician and five others were charged in court on Tuesday in what was seen as a crackdown on graft by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (Macc), which has been under a cloud recently.

Five of them were arrested on Monday evening, while the sixth was arrested on Tuesday morning.

At the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Tuesday, all the accused pleaded not guilty, claimed trial and were released on bail.

Abdul Rahman Bakri, the Umno Member of Parliament for Sabak Bernam in Selangor, was charged with eight counts of mishandling government funds.

He was accused of claiming expenses amounting to RM80,000 (S$32,700) for events that never took place.

He faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine five times the amount of money he received on each charge.

eliz@sph.com.sg

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.