KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 12): ATTA Global Group Bhd's executive director Tan Kim Hee has been detained by the police.

In a bourse filing, ATTA Global said Tan was detained by Johor police to assist an investigation not related to the company or any of its subsidiaries and associate companies.

"He has since been released on police bail and continues to assist in the investigation. Further to the above, the board of directors of ATTA Global wishes to inform that there is no financial and operational impact on the group following the abovesaid investigation.

"ATTA Global will make further announcements as and when there are any developments in relation thereof," said the company in the filing with Bursa Malaysia.

This happened one year after the company's former chairman Ooi Chieng Sim and seven others were charged under Section 39 (B)(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, with trafficking in just under 5kg of methamphetamine at a warehouse of ATTA Global's premises in Prai Industrial Estate. They were charged in January last year.

Their arrests were part of police-lead operation "Ops Eagle Diamond" and was linked to another drug bust that involved 12 tonnes of cocaine worth RM2.4 billion — the largest drug haul in the country's history — in September 2019.

Tan was redesignated as an executive director one month after Ooi was charged last year. Tan is currently the second-largest shareholder, holding a 21.80% stake.