Court extends remand of ex-aide to Najib over school solar panel scandal

PUTRAJAYA: The magistrate's court here on Friday (July 13) extended the remand of a former aide of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who allegedly solicited money from a company awarded to install solar panels in Sarawak schools.

Magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim allowed the 44-year-old's remand to be extended until Sunday (July 15).

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had earlier applied for a seven-day remand extension.

"But after weighing the merits of their argument, the magistrate only allowed an extension of two days," said the ex-aide's lawyer Ridha Adha Subri.

The man was arrested on Monday (July 9) when he was called to give his statement to the MACC investigators and was remanded the next day.

The MACC was investigating him following allegations that he had solicited money from the Bintulu-based company that was awarded the tender to install solar panels at schools in Sarawak.

Although it was said that money did not change hands, he was still investigated as there were allegations that he had asked for money.

The solar panel project for schools in Sarawak courted controversy when it was highlighted that the contract was said to have been done under the "direct order" of the then prime minister.