Iris Corp deputy MD arrested over e-passport project

- EPA

KUALA LUMPUR: Iris Corporation Bhd's deputy managing director, Datuk Hamdan Mohd Hassan was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged graft involving an e-passport project for the Republic of Guinea.

The company announced on Friday he was arrested the previous day for alleged abuse of  power and involvement in corrupt practices in the e-passport project for the government of the Republic of Guinea. 

Iris Corp had signed a 15-year contract with that government to implement the e-passport facility in that country. 

At the Magistrates Court at Putrajaya on Friday, the MACC obtained a remand order for six days to enable it to carry out their probe.

“Pending the finalisation of the investigations, Iris Corp wishes to announce that Hamdan’s executive powers are suspended and his present duties and responsibilities as acting CEO of Iris will be taken over by the current chief operating officer, Choong Choo Hock.

“The remand of Hamdan will not have any implications on the validity of the contract between Iris and the government of the Republic of Guinea nor does Iris expect that it will have any implications on the e passport project,” it said.

Iris also said the remand of Hamdan would not have any material effect on the earnings and net assets of the company for the financial year ending March 31, 2017 and also financial year ending March 31, 2018.

Iris said it would extend its complete cooperation to the MACC in its investigations.