MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen the personal bank accounts of Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh, reported The Star Online today. 

Phee’s accounts have been frozen pending investigations into an illegal carbon filter-processing factory in Sungai Lembu.

“We have a set time. Maybe two to three months and after that, the accounts will be released,” a source told the news portal yesterday.

However, the source said the bank accounts of the factory owner had not been frozen.

He added investigations were ongoing and the graft-busters had yet to record the statements of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, who is in the hospital.

Norlela had filed complaints that the factory was polluting the environment of the villagers. 

On August 11, Phee who is also the environment, welfare and caring society exco was arrested along with factory owner Edmond Gan Eu Lee, 37, and his father Gan Buck Hee, 70, who opened the factory about 30 years ago. 

The three were released on August 14 after the Penang High Court set aside their remand orders.

Judicial Commissioner Abdul Wahab Mohamed ruled that the five-day remand issued on August 12 contravened Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

MACC, however, intends to appeal the decision.

Phee is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for allegedly writing two letters to MPSP, urging the council to not take action against the illegal factory.

We have conducted several raids on Phee’s houses in Butterworth, his office in Komtar, his service centre in Sungai Puyu, and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council office in Bandar Perda,” the source added. – August 21, 2017.