PUTRAJAYA: The Environment Department (DOE) director-general, his deputy and an officer have been remanded for seven days until next Thursday to assist investigations into alleged irregularities involving electronic waste (e-waste).
Another individual was remanded for three days, until Sunday, in connection with the same probe.
The suspects arrived at the Palace of Justice at about 9.30am yesterday along with two other suspects, all dressed in orange attire.
The four were escorted into the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court by seven officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The remand order was granted by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah following an application by the MACC to facilitate investigations.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said investigations are ongoing.
“We are investigating under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.
“The investigation is being conducted in a professional and transparent manner based on current laws,” he said yesterday.
It was previously reported that the suspects were detained at about 6.30pm on Thursday after turning up to give statements at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Investigations are focusing on alleged abuse of power and corruption linked to the management of e-waste, believed to have taken place over the past few years, a source said.
Earlier, 16 bank accounts containing RM10.2mil, along with other assets, were seized in connection with the probe into alleged corruption involving e-waste processing, effluent disposal and scheduled waste-dumping activities in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
Meanwhile, the Negri Sembilan MACC detained four other individuals, including a senior officer from a government department.
“A total of 16 bank accounts with an estimated value of RM10.2mil have been frozen. The MACC also seized RM87,000, along with valuables, vehicles and jewellery estimated to be worth about RM220,000.
“The arrests and remand involve company directors and DOE officers suspected of protecting illegal e-waste processing factories, as well as facilitating the disposal of scheduled waste without complying with prescribed procedures,” the source said.
