The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer who was charged last month for misappropriating at least $1.7 million from the anti-graft agency was back in court on Tuesday - but this time with a defence counsel in tow.

Mr Tan Hee Joek, the lawyer representing CPIB assistant director Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong, asked the court for a four-week adjournment so that representations can be made to the Attorney Generals Chambers.

The case against Yeo, 39, who faces a total of 21 charges, will be heard in a month's time. A separate independent review into the case, however, had concluded that supervisory lapses had led to a lack of financial controls at the bureau.

CPIB director Eric Tan and his predecessor, Mr Soh Kee Hean, 48, now the deputy executive director of the Council for Estate Agencies, were given warnings as a result of the lapses as they were deemed to have been responsible for Yeo.