MACC senior investigations director Hafaz Nazar confirmed the process concluded at about 9pm tonight – the third consecutive day Chai was questioned.
“The recording of his statement, which entered its third day today, will not be continued for now,” Bernama quoted Hafaz as saying when contacted.
Chai, who is also a political analyst, arrived at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am today.
The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 over a government-funded semiconductor project worth RM1.1 billion.
MACC opened the investigation paper on Feb 16 following complaints from several NGOs, which alleged that the project agreement was rushed and skewed, potentially resulting in financial implications for the government.
The probe is also focusing on the possibility of a conflict of interest involving several individuals who were allegedly appointed to senior positions in the foreign company after leaving their posts in a ministry.
MACC gave Chai several extensions to return and assist in the probe, warning that failure to do so could prompt the agency to seek international cooperation, including through Interpol or foreign enforcement agencies, to locate him and secure his attendance.
Chai said on March 6 that he had appointed two lawyers to liaise with MACC officers to arrange a session for his statement to be recorded.
This followed MACC’s call for him to immediately contact investigators and return to Malaysia to assist in the ongoing probe.
The commission said he had not responded to several attempts by officers to reach him or to appear at its headquarters in Putrajaya.
Chai, however, said he only became aware that MACC wanted his cooperation after the public notice was issued to trace his whereabouts, adding that he was ready to fully cooperate with the agency “in a lawful and professional manner”.
He also criticised the search notice, which included the address of his childhood home, saying it was excessive and appeared to portray him as a fugitive.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki previously said 12 witnesses from various government agencies, including a former minister, had given their statements to assist in the investigation.