Remand on Datuk Seri over undersea tunnel project extended

PUTRAJAYA: A 37-year-old businessman who was remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to facilitate investigations into kickbacks involving the controversial RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project on Feb 28 had his remand extended by another five days from today.
Magistrate Nik Muizzuddin Nik Muhammad allowed the extension following an application by MACC. He will be remanded until Saturday.
The suspect, who is a Datuk Seri arrived at the court complex at 9.20am clad in a bright orange MACC lockup wear, had earlier been remanded for six days to facilitate investigations.
He had been detained by the MACC last Tuesday at its headquarters, here for allegedly accepting RM19 million from a developer to halt investigations on the controversial RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project.
The suspect had allegedly claimed that he had "connections" and could put an end to the investigations on the case.
It is learnt that he allegedly received the sum in staggered payments between July and August last year from the construction company undertaking the project.
The commission initiated investigations into the case after the estimated cost of the feasibility study project of RM305 million is believed to have been jacked up by about five times of its actual cost, indicating elements of embezzlement.
Sources said preliminary findings also showed that there were certain individuals who had received a share of the RM305 million pie.
To facilitate investigations, investigators had initially arrested two Datuk, a Datuk Seri and an engineer - all who are senior officials of construction companies behind the project. They have called up almost 100 people for questioning since the probe went full-scale last month.
All four men were freed on bail and investigators have also visited over 40 places in Penang and the Klang Valley in efforts to gather more evidence.