A 59-year-old company director and a 30-year-old lawyer have been remanded today over the solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.

The duo was arrested by the MACC at its headquarters in Putrajaya yesterday after their statements were recorded, and brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court this morning.

An MACC spokesperson told reporters that magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim has granted a six-day remand up to July 2.

The RM1.25 billion project was meant to supply electricity to 369 rural schools in Sarawak by supplying diesel, setting up solar hybrid systems, and maintaining generators.

The company Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd was awarded the contract for the project in January last year.

Malaysiakini had reported that the then Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had supposedly instructed for the project’s contract to be awarded to a politically-linked company, hence bypassing the Education Ministry’s procurement process.

Payment was allegedly made although no work was done.