MACC conducts multiple raids in Gatco probe (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Just two days after meeting a group of settlers who alleged they were shortchanged in a land deal made 40 years ago with the now defunct Great Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched simultaneous raids on the offices of five establishments related to the case today.
Between 10am and 10.30am, MACC investigations officers stepped into the offices of the Negri Sembilan State Secretariat and Negri Sembilan Development Corporation, accounting firm Singam & Yong on Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) and Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd – both in Petaling Jaya.
The MACC officers who are part of a special task force set up to investigate the plight of the settlers are gathering documents at the raided offices seeking evidence of alleged power abuse and corruption in the case.
On Sunday, an entourage from the MACC led by its chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad visited Kampung Gatco, now renamed Kampung Serampang Indah, meeting settlers who poured out their woes to the commission, urging a probe be conducted to ascertain if there were elements of power abuse and corruption involved in the case.
Dzulkifli had said a special task force would be formed and assured the settlers he would look into the case.
About 470 settlers had paid over RM7,000 each in deposits to Gatco for a plot of land to build their houses and cultivate sugarcane in 1977 – a scheme the NUPW had initiated purportedly for the benefit of the settlers.
The NUPW had leased the land from the Negri Sembilan Development Corporation for 99 years before forming Gatco to realise the scheme.
Years later, Gatco ran into troubled waters and when it went bust, the land was taken over by national asset management company Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd.
In 2007, it was sold to the current owner, Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd – an oil palm and rubber plantation company and a subsidiary of Lotus Group.
Over the past two years, the situation at the estate had turned ugly when Thamarai Holdings attempted to take full possession of the land and the settlers retaliated to the move.
This led to the involvement of the police and other enforcement agencies in the eviction of the settlers and subsequently the arrests of many of them.
Several politicians and NGO members aiding the settlers were also detained when they intervened.
The settlers had also filed a court case seeking an order to reinstate what was promised to them but the outcome is yet to be heard.
Sources said the raids ended at about 4.45pm and investigators had seized documents related to the Gatco scheme from the places.
MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani who confirmed the raids said the documents are in the midst of being examined by investigators.