CHAIRMAN REMANDED
Suspect allegedly involved in preparing false claims for project’s feasibility studies
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) yesterday obtained a five-day remand order against a Datuk Seri as part of an investigation into the Penang undersea tunnel project.
The remand order against the 62-year-old, effective until Monday, was issued by magistrate Ainna Sherina Saipolamin.
Handcuffed and clad in orange MACC lock-up attire, the Datuk Seri arrived at the magistrate’s court here at 9.35am yesterday.
It was reported that the man, who is the chairman of an engineering consulting company involved in the project’s studies, was arrested at the MACC headquarters at 2.44pm on Wednesday.
The suspect, who is the fourth individual to be detained as part of the probe, is believed to have been involved in the preparation of false claims for the feasibility studies, at a cost of RM305 million, submitted to the Penang government.
On Tuesday, a 50-year-old engineering consultant was arrested at the MACC headquarters at 6.30pm. She is believed to be a senior consultant at a company responsible for the project.
Two company officials, each with the title Datuk, were also detained on Tuesday, but later released on bail.
MACC officers have recorded statements from 76 people in the course of their investigations.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel is part of a RM6.3 billion project undertaken by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, which also includes three paired roads.
The tunnel project has raised controversy in recent months, especially on the high cost of the RM305 million feasibility studies, as well as the 21-month delay in construction.