GEORGE TOWN, Aug 14 — State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh’s remand order was set aside by the Penang High Court today, and his lawyer Ramkarpal Singh later said he is now a free man and will not be rearrested.
Ramkarpal told reporters waiting outside his office that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer had informed them that they do not have an intention to rearrest Phee.
“As far as we are concerned Phee is a free man, there is no basis for them to hold him any longer after the High Court’s ruling,” he said.
He added that the investigating officer also said they may need Phee to go to the MACC headquarters here to give another statement.
“We informed her that we are willing to assist them and we are willing to cooperate with them in their investigations,” he said.
Meanwhile, RSN Rayer, who also represented Phee, said Phee is unwell and will be heading to the hospital after this.
“I’m not sure, maybe he needs to go for a medical checkup,” he said when asked whether Phee was ill.
Later, Phee, who had changed out of the orange MACC lockup uniform, came out to thank his lawyers and those who had supported him and his family since his arrest last Friday.
“I stand firm because I’m innocent, we have to be together to face this, this is the darkest hour in Malaysia,” he said.
He said there is a need for change and change must come through sacrifice.
“Our leaders are prepared to sacrifice for the sake of the people of Malaysia,” he said.
Phee along with a factory manager and his son were arrested by MACC on Friday evening in relation to a corruption investigation on an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam.
They were issued a five-day remand order on Saturday to facilitate MACC’s probe into the illegal carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu.
The remand order, which would have ended on Wednesday, was to facilitate the MACC investigations under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for abuse of power for gratification.
However, Phee and the two suspect’s lawyers applied to the Penang High Court to set aside the remand order today.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed allowed the application and set aside the remand order.
He also ordered for the handcuffs on the three suspects to be removed immediately
Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/penang-exco-two-others-released-from-remand-detention#G2Rqt5sWWylPPQMz.99