Datuk Seri remanded in probe
Company boss held as MACC widens tunnel investigation
PUTRAJAYA: The chairman of an engineering consultancy firm will be held under Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) custody for five days as the antigraft body widens its probe into the Penang undersea tunnel project.
The 62-year-old, who carries a “Datuk Seri” title, is the fourth individual arrested by MACC in the probe and will be remanded until Jan 29.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Amer Abu Bakar Abdullah requested the maximum seven-day remand period, but magistrate Fatina Amyra Abd Jalil granted a five-day remand.
The man was detained at 2.44pm on Wednesday at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after giving his statement.
Sources had said on Wednesday that the Datuk Seri was being investigated over the forging of claim documents submitted to the Penang government over the RM305mil feasibility study into the RM6.3bil project comprising three main roads and an undersea tunnel.
The Datuk Seri’s lawyer N. Surendran expressed disappointment that his client had been remanded.
“He gave his full cooperation to the MACC and came to its headquarters voluntarily on two occasions last week.
“I do not see why he needed to be remanded when he has been cooperative all along,” he said.
The controversial mega project includes the construction of a 7.2km undersea tunnel connecting Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in north Butterworth.
There will also be a 10.53km North Coastal Paired Road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, a 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass and a 4.075km Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass.
Earlier this month, two high-rank- ing Datuks of development and construction companies were detained and spent a total of 11 days under MACC custody.
On Wednesday, a senior engineering consultant in her 50s was remanded for five days.
The MACC has questioned over 70 witnesses in relation to the case so far.