Phee was in the custody of MACC for three days for an investigation into an illegal factory last week before the High Court declared his five-day remand invalid.
“The state executive council trusts that Phee is not involved in corruption or receiving bribes in this case, or even having a family relationship with the owners of the factory.
“Phee will come back from the sick leave and explain the Sungai Lembu illegal factory issue, which is alleged to have been allowed to operate for more than 10 years.
“All our executive councillors are ready to be called by MACC and will not run or hide like Jho Low,” Lim said at a press conference today.
Phee, 66, is being investigated for using his office or position for gratification under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.
Two other men involved in the case, a father and son aged 70 and 37, are the owners of the carbon filter factory alleged to have been operating illegally for more than 10 years. They were also ordered released from remand by the court.
If found guilty, Phee faces 20 years’ jail and a fine not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Phee’s arrest on Friday followed a multi-agency operation carried out last Thursday at the factory in Bukit Mertajam, which was found to have flouted many federal regulations.
The Department of Environment (DoE) found that the factory did not have a proper air pollution control system. The factory was also said to be operating illegally on agriculture land in Sungai Lembu.
MACC, the Immigration Department, the DoE and the Inland Revenue Board jointly conducted the operation.
Besides the factory, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council’s licensing department was also raided by MACC.
MACC said it is investigating two letters allegedly written by Phee, asking that no action be taken against the illegal factory.