The investigation papers will be handed over to the public prosecutors’ office soon, state police chief Thaiveegan Arumugam said.

More than 70 statements had been recorded, he said in a short statement today.

Thaiveegan said the investigation papers were being collated before being sent to the state prosecutor’s office in a “few days’ time”.

The probe looked into elements of possible criminal negligence which might have caused the landslide.

On Oct 19, 42,000 tonnes of earth fell from a hill slope on Bukit Kukus, where an elevated road is being built. It swept away 12 container cabins with 13 foreign construction workers in them. Nine died and four survived.

The project site is part of a RM530 million, 5km bypass road hugging the hills of Bukit Kukus and linking Bandar Baru Air Itam and Relau. The project is being undertaken by the Penang Island City Council and two private developers.

The contractors are waiting for the green light to continue with the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020.