KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The businessman known as "Datuk Roy" and a former deputy court registrar, who were remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) to assist in investigations relating to the Jana Wibawa programme, have been released.
Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin allowed the graft buster's application on Monday (March 20) for both of them to be released.
Both men were released with on MACC bail with one surety each. They will also have to report to the MACC once a month.
Lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin, who was acting for the duo, confirmed this when contacted.
He added that the MACC had received the necessary information from his clients, and that they had cooperated with the authorities' investigations.
According to him, they can also be called back for further investigations if needed.
Last Monday, the MACC issued a notice seeking information on "Datuk Roy", and he was arrested after surrendering himself to the authorities.
He was remanded for three days from last Tuesday to assist in the investigations, and was subsequently released.
However, he was rearrested by MACC Putrajaya for another related case, and remanded further until Monday.
Meanwhile, the retired deputy court registrar was arrested last Friday. Subsequently, the Magistrate's Court allowed the MACC's remand application the next day, where he was remanded for three days.
It was reported that he was detained for allegedly soliciting RM2 million to influence an MACC probe related to the Jana Wibawa programme.
Introduced in 2020 by then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Jana Wibawa programme was a scheme to assist Bumiputera contractors after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Investigations into the programme have led to the charging of some Bersatu leaders in recent weeks, including Muhyiddin himself, Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, and Bersatu deputy division chief for Segambut Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.
Earlier this month, the MACC reportedly arrested four people — including one of its officers and a woman — who were alleged to have solicited and accepted a bribe of RM400,000 to prevent an investigation into the programme.