MACC nabs ex-special officer to former Felda CEO

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a former special officer to the ex-chairman of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) following investigations into a purchase of a luxury hotel in Kuching by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) .
MACC commissioner Datuk Seri Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad who confirmed the arrest said the individual was taken into custody at the commission's headquarters at 4am, today.
"He will be brought for remand hearing at Putrajaya later in the evening," he told reporters after launching the "Gerakan Revolusi Anti-Rasuah" (Gerah) programme at Hotel Ansa, here.
The arrest was the fourth made by the anti-graft body over the hotel probe.Two suspects who were directors of a company appointed to carry out the purchase in 2014 were arrested on Saturday morning.
This after the duo aged 47 and 51 were called up by the MACC to give their statements at its headquarters, while the third suspect, aged 57, was detained at the Kuching MACC office at 1.30pm on Saturday.
It is learnt that he was a director of a company which owns the hotel in question.
The two suspects had been remanded for a week until Aug 4 to assist in the probe, while third suspect has been remanded six days.
The purchase of the lavish hotel in Kuching by FIC had raised suspicions of corruption and abuse of power after the Felda subsidiary had allegedly paid between RM40 million and RM50 million higher than its actual market value.
On another matter, Dzulkifli said the MACC is currently studying the first series of the 2016 Auditor-General's Report which was released on the aspects involving abuse of power, bribery and discrepancies in the report.
He said a special team will be formed to conduct thorough investigations based on the report for further action.
"I have already read a bit in the report and am reviewing some of the discrepancies for further action. We will be issuing a press statement following the review soon," he added.
The Auditor-General's Report 2016 Series 1 tabled at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday contains 353 recommendations to assist the federal government, federal statutory bodies and state governments in rectifying identified weaknesses.