PUTRAJAYA: Following fresh leads into the investigations on the non-delivery of six littoral combat ships, two individuals have been picked up for questioning by graft investigators.

       The two - a former top gun with Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd and a chief executive officer of a company, were detained when they were called in for questioning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters late on Monday (Jan 24) evening.

       "Investigators released the 79-year-old Tan Sri after taking his statement while the company chief executive officer was remanded," said sources with knowledge of the investigation.

       Investigators had obtained a remand order for the 49-year-old chief executive officer.

       The 49-year-old woman would be remanded for three days beginning Tuesday (Jan 25).

       It was learnt that the two were believed to have committed misappropriation and had accepted bribes in the form of payments that were made to three companies based overseas.

       It was previously reported that the project, worth more than RM9bil, was awarded in 2014 and the order was for six LCSs to be constructed.

       The first ship should have been delivered in April 2019, but not one ship has been built despite the government having already paid the company RM6bil.

       In Nov 2020, Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd had lodged a report with the MACC, asking for a probe on possible irregularities in the project.