Alor Star High Court rejects Phee's lawyers’ application against remand order

The High Court here yesterday turned down the application by lawyers for Penang Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh for a revision against his five-day remand order granted by the George Town magistrate’s court in connection with an alleged corruption case.

The court also turned down the same application filed by lawyer Dev Kumaraendran, who represented a 70-year-old factory manager and his 37-year-old son, who were also detained under the five-day remand order.

Judge Datuk Hashim Hamzah said after taking into consideration submissions from the lawyers and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecutor A. Hafiizh Abu Bakar, he decided that the application should be filed in George Town.

“The court hereby decides that the George Town High Court is the right forum to hear the application,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, Dev and lawyers RSN Rayer and Ramkarpal Singh who represented Phee, filed an application for the revision.

On Saturday, the George Town magistrate’s court granted a fiveday remand order against Phee and the father and son duo to facilitate investigations into an illegal carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.

The remand order, which will end on Wednesday, was issued by senior deputy registrar Ameera Mastura Khamis.

Phee is being investigated by MACC under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for abuse of power for gratification.

Ramkarpal had told newsmen that the court order was “highly irregular” and that he would file for a revision to overturn it at the High Court under the necessary provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Ramkarpal was quoted as saying that he believed the Alor Star High Court had jurisdiction to hear the matter.