KUALA LUMPUR (June 27): Lawyers for the CEO of a highway concessionaire, who was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) earlier this week, have sought explanation from the commission as to why their client was brought to court without prior notice.

Farhan Read, who represents the CEO, on Thusday wrote a letter addressed to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki as well as the investigating officer on the matter.

According to the letter sighted by The Edge, Farhan claimed that his client was summoned by the anti-graft body to its headquarters on Monday and that he went voluntarily to assist with the probe into two highway projects.

The MACC then applied for and was granted a four-day remand against the CEO from Tuesday to Friday (June 25-28).

The remand order was issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin following an application by the MACC at the Magistrate's Court in Putrajaya on Tuesday.

According to Farhan, he was attending to another case at the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when he saw his client being brought to court by the MACC.

“He was in handcuffs and was accompanied by MACC officers to court,” he said.

Farhan said that he was not informed by the MACC that it would bring his client to court.

“We asked the officers accompanying my client as to why he was being brought to court but the officer said that we could not speak with our client.

“There was no reason given as to why he was brought to court, and we were not informed,” said the lawyer.

Farhan noted that he is on record with the MACC as the CEO’s lawyer.

Farhan said that this was an infringement of his client's rights as stated in Article 5 of the Federal Constitution, which states that a person has right of representation.

According to Farhan, the magistrate stated that the MACC had initially applied to release the CEO early from the remand. However, during proceedings, the commission pulled the application and opted to keep the CEO remanded till Friday.

Additionally, Farhan told The Edge that the MACC is expected to apply for an extension of the remand on Friday.

The CEO, along with seven others, had been arrested for alleged bribery in connection with two highway projects worth RM1.67 billion, according to the MACC.

On Tuesday, Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) issued a statement saying it was "aware that our personnel have been remanded by MACC to assist in an ongoing investigation relating to a construction case".

"We are committed and are working closely with all relevant authorities to ensure full cooperation in facilitating the investigation.

"Prolintas continues to be committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity and corporate governance,” said the highway concessionaire.

Prolintas operates several highways in the Klang Valley including the Guthrie Corridor Expressway, Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK), Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) and Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE).