IPOH: Four men, including an Immigration Department director, who were detained for alleged bribery, have been released.
The 57-year-old director, a 26-year-old mechanic and two businessmen, both 30, were released unconditionally after the magistrate’s court here denied the application made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to extend their remand.
All four were represented by their counsels Ranjit Singh Sandhu and Dexter Mah.
During the proceeding, both Ranjit and Mah argued that investigations could proceed even without the presence of the suspects.
“All the information needed in the investigation have been handed over to the forensic team, and having my clients released would, in no way, interfere and allow tampering with such evidence.
“My clients have given their utmost cooperation in the investigations. If needed, MACC is free to call them up again, but until then, there’s no reason for them to continue being detained,” Mah told magistrate Suhaima Mohd Noor yesterday.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Wahida Jalaluddin said the investigations could only see progress if they were able to unlock the four handphones seized from the suspects using the correct pin code.
“Until today, we are still facing difficulties because they refused to cooperate with us.
“If the remand is not extended, there’s a possibility that there is a risk in the destruction of evidence, as certain data like WhatsApp messages cannot be accessed,” she said, to which Mah replied that the investigation team could easily contact the telecommunications company concerned to release the data needed in the phone.
The men, who were nabbed on Feb 23, were ordered to be remanded for five days to help in investigations over graft probes involving massage parlours and entertainment outlets in the state.
Under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act, those found guilty of soliciting or receiving any form of gratification as an inducement for performing (or not performing) a task, face a maximum penalty of 20 years jail and RM10,000 fine, or five times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/four-in-graft-probe-freed-from-remand/#ujvhcs8qYMbi2XPA.99
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