TRANSLATED BY MA CHEE SENG
KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court here on Wednesday (Oct 11) rejected the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) request for the remand of a government department director and three other individuals.
They were detained to assist in an investigation related to allegations of giving and receiving bribes amounting to RM44.4mil.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi rejected the remand application presented by deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim from the MACC, against the four suspects, aged between 38 and 59.
Subsequently, Magistrate Zubaidah granted them bail after the seven-day remand application under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 was rejected.
The four suspects—a director and an engineer from a government agency, a company owner, and an investment trust manager—were detained on Oct 10 around 7.20pm and 7.40pm at the MACC office, where they had been summoned to provide statements.
According to sources, the main suspect is alleged to have received bribes from a contractor between 2018 and 2021 in exchange for securing two water supply projects worth approximately RM44.4mil.
Meanwhile, the investment trust manager was detained for allegedly receiving bribes and residential property on behalf of the main suspect.
Three suspects were represented by lawyers Roger Chin and Sunny Si, while one suspect was represented by lawyer Francis Wee.
Chin said the MACC wanted to retrieve documents such as bank statements and contract documents, all of which could be done without the need to detain the suspects.
