4-DAY REMAND FOR ‘DATUK’
Suspect allegedly received RM3m from construction firm to end MACC probe
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) obtained a four-day remand order yesterday against a businessman suspected of receiving RM3 million as an inducement to end a probe into Penang’s controversial RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
Magistrate Eng Kar Wen issued the order, which runs until March 6, against the 64-year-old “Datuk” at the magistrate’s court here earlier.
Handcuffed and clad in MACC lock-up attire, the suspect arrived at the court at 9.10am.
He was detained by the commission at 3.30pm on Friday in Kuala Lumpur.
The businessman is believed to have received the sum from the main construction company linked to the project after claiming that he had the power to “cover up” the commission’s investigation.
It was reported that the company paid him RM3 million in four transactions last year.
It was also alleged that the suspect had initially requested RM4 million as a “reward” to slam the brakes on the investigation. However, the amount was reduced to RM3 million after negotiations.
The construction company, which was convinced that the suspect had the clout to stop the investigation, forked out the amount.
He is the second person to be held by MACC over suspicions of accepting inducement to stop the investigation into the project.
On Tuesday, a 37-year-old “Datuk Seri”, who is a businessman, was remanded after being accused of receiving RM19 million to stop the investigation.
The mega tunnel project has raised controversies in recent months, especially on the RM305 million price tag for its feasibility studies, as well as the 22-month delay in completing them.