High Court to hear ex-Hindu board chief’s remand revision bid

GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here will hear an application to reduce the six-day remand order for former Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) executive director and CEO M Ramachandran, who is being held as part of a probe into alleged corruption.

His lawyer, R Roshunraj, said that the remand review, initially intended to expedite the decision, was now scheduled for 9am on Dec 9 – the fifth day of Ramachandran’s remand.

“We are disappointed that the revision application will only be heard on Monday, as this delay unnecessarily prolongs the remand,” he told FMT.

“We believe the remand period is excessive and unjustified, especially considering my client’s health condition.”

Ramachandran has been detained under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act since yesterday as part of a probe into alleged corruption in the procurement of a golden chariot for Thaipusam in 2019.

A magistrate granted the six-day remand after prosecutors requested seven days.

The High Court appeal will be heard by Justice Rofiah Mohamad.

MACC recently launched its probe into the procurement of the golden chariot, with former PHEB chairman and deputy chief minister P Ramasamy voluntarily giving his statement to the anti-graft agency.

Lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind said in a Facebook post that his client, Ramasamy, visited the MACC office at Northam Road on Wednesday and would continue giving his statement today.