False claims case: Project directors allowed bail
KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday rejected an application from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for a remand order against two project directors, who are being investigated in a false claims case involving RM1.3 million.
Magistrate Zaiton Anuar allowed the directors, aged 43 and 46, to be released on MACC bail after disallowing an MACC investigating officer’s seven-day remand application to assist in the investigation under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.
The directors were arrested at 5.05pm and 5.50pm, respectively, at the MACC’s office here on Thursday. They are alleged to have made false claims regarding the Tanjung Manis Phase 1 water supply project in 2013.
It is understood that the construction of the River Bank Filtration (RBF) Package 1 of the project was carried out not in accordance with contract specifications and claims containing false details were allegedly submitted.
Lawyers Roger Chin and Sim Hui Chuang, who represented the 43-year-old suspect said if the project was not implemented in accordance with the contract specifications, it would be a civil case and did not involve false claims.
“This case only involves the issue of defects in the project
and usually, the contractor could be instructed to repair the project.
“In fact, this matter has been submitted to the tribunal for decision on Jan 11, 2018 and certain parties have instead been ordered to pay my client,” Chin told reporters after the proceedings.
He added that their client could provide all the relevant documents to the MACC regarding the project.
According to him, there is no need for the MACC to detain and remand both men.
The 46-year-old second suspect was represented by attorney Francis Wee.
Both directors were detained following the arrest of the managing director of a private company in Samarahan on Thursday.
The managing director was remanded for five days, from Thursday, to assist in the investigation of the same case.