PUTRAJAYA: A businessman with a Datuk Seri title has been remanded for six days beginning today to assist in a RM19 million graft case in connection with the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Magistrate Norhidayati Mohammad Nasroh issued the remand order against the 37-year-old man.
He was detained at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters about 3.48pm on Tuesday.
Flanked by MACC officers, the businessman arrived at the magistrate court about 9.15am.
It is understood that the suspect had received the staggering sum from a construction company linked to the project after claiming that he was able to slam the brakes on the investigation carried out by MACC.
Sources said the company paid out the RM19 million in stages between July and August last year.
The first payment amounted to RM2 million and was made at the suspect’s house in July.
The second payment of RM15 million was paid out to a company in the same month, while the third and final payment was made in August last year.
The Penang undersea tunnel project had raised numerous controversies in recent months, especially on the high cost of feasibility studies as well as the 22-month delay in completing it.