Six reports lodged over offer to donate Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine doses to Penang, say cops - The Star Online

GEORGE TOWN: Police have stepped into the case of an offer to donate two million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to Penang.

The scope of the investigation will include the validity and status of the company offering the donation, as well as the roles of the person whose name is on the offer letter to the Penang government, says state police chief Comm Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan.

He also said that six police reports have been lodged so far in connection with the offer to donate the vaccine doses to Penang.

According to Comm Sahabudin, the reports were lodged by several individuals representing political parties, as well as the Penang Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

“An investigation has been launched by the state Commercial Criminal Investigation Department under Section 420 and 511 of the Penal Code,” he said in a statement Sunday (May 23).

Comm Sahabudin said the suspect is a representative of Hong Kong-based company Xintai Enterprise Development Ltd who was believed to have attempted to dupe the Penang government by offering two million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.

He said initial investigations found that the writer of the letter was not the Xintai Development Enterprise Ltd managing director as stated in the letter but only a representative who had been appointed verbally by the company.

“The writer of the letter also confirmed that the signature on the letter sent to the CMO belonged to him,” he said.

Comm Sahabudin said the investigation into the matter was still at the initial stage and police will record witness statements from the alleged donor, the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme office and the CMO.

He added that the investigation paper will be forwarded to the state deputy public prosecutor’s office for advice and views after all investigations have been completed.