Leaking Woes: ACA probes court complex contractor and plumber
25/05/2007 NST By: Lee Shi-Ian and A. Hafiz Yatim

KUALA LUMPUR: The contractor and the plumber of the spanking new RM270 million court complex in Jalan Duta is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency.

The ACA opened a file on the contractor, Johawaki Sdn Bhd, after the cafeteria was flooded following a burst pipe on Tuesday.

The problems for the court complex mounted further when the lock-ups at Sessions Court I and II were inundated from leaking water pipe.

The two courts were closed as the floor and walls of the lock-ups were soaked.

Security guards at the complex quickly cordoned off the area barring reporters and photographers from going to the fourth floor.
On Tuesday, the guards had tried to prevent press photographers from taking pictures of the ankle-deep water in the cafeteria but failed.

A senior ACA officer told the New Straits Times that officers from his department visited the contractor’s office in Shah Alam yesterday and examined building plans and specifications.

"The invoices and receipts of building materials purchased for the construction of the complex will be used in the investigations."

It is learnt the investigation would home in on whether procedures had been violated and if materials used conformed to the specifications.

ACA also despatched a forensic unit to the court complex in Jalan Duta yesterday to study the defects and other problems plaguing the structure.

Their findings would be submitted to the investigating team.

On Tuesday, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Dr Judin Abdul Karim said that the burst pipe had been caused by a sub-standard cap.

"The leak happened because the cap gave way. The cap used was PVC and this was not according to specifications.

"The contractor should have used the approved ABS Class 15 cap," he said.

It is learnt that Johawaki managing director Datuk Johari Mat is abroad while deputy managing director Datuk Abdullah Che Mat was not reachable.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan, when contacted, said he was waiting for a briefing on the incident.