Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin allowed MACC’s request to remand M Ramachandran, although the anti-graft agency initially sought a seven-day remand order.

Ramachandran’s lawyer R Roshunraj objected to the remand order at the magistrates’ court here, citing his client’s health issues and calling the seven-day period excessive.

He said his client has diabetes, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis which requires specialised medication.

He also said Ramachandran was brought for questioning from his home in Perai to the MACC office on Northam Road at 8am yesterday. He was arrested about an hour later.

Roshunraj said he would challenge the remand order at the High Court with a certificate of urgency as his client should not be subjected to prolonged detention.

“We will file for a revision at the High Court as this remand period is unnecessary and excessive, especially considering my client’s health conditions,” he said when contacted.

He said MACC was investigating Ramachandran under Section 23 of the MACC Act, which involves the abuse of office or position for personal gratification.

Roshunraj said details of the investigation had not been disclosed but that it was believed to be linked to the alleged misuse of funds for the golden chariot project for Thaipusam.

FMT earlier reported that MACC was probing former PHEB chairman P Ramasamy over alleged corruption in the procurement of the golden chariot.

Ramasamy, who yesterday discovered that he had been banned from leaving the country, has denied any wrongdoing.