PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday in connection with its investigation into Felda Investment Corporation’s (FIC) hotel purchases in London and Kuching.
The former Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) chairman’s house in Selangor was searched by MACC officers for files and documents related to the probe.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said the search was part of the investigating process in the commission’s ongoing probe into FIC’s hotel purchases.
“It (the search) is a normal procedure in MACC investigation to obtain files or documents related to the case.
“I am not able disclose whether there will be more arrests in the future as investigation is ongoing,” he said after witnessing a corruption-free pledge by non-governmental organisations and a parent-teacher association at the Industrial Training Institute in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, last night.
Dzulkifli said Isa was expected lto be remanded today.
Isa was nabbed when he presented himself at the MACC headquarters here at 2.40pm to have his statement recorded.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki confirmed that the arrest was made at 4.24pm.
“The arrest is a follow-up action based on statements recorded by the investigation team on the purchases of the luxury hotels previously.
“MACC is confident that it has strong basis to carry out the arrest to help in its investigations.”
Earlier, Isa who arrived at the commission, wearing a mustard yellow suit and a pair of blue pants, was seen smiling at reporters before entering the commission’s building here.
Two months ago, the Prime Minister’s Office had announced lthat Isa had been appointed acting chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
MACC is investigating FIC’s purchase of a property in Kensington, London, between 2013 and 2015, for a total of £60mil (RM330mil) when the actual value of the property at the time of purchase was said to be RM110 million.
The graft buster is also investigating FIC’s 2014 purchase of a Kuching hotel, comprising 213 guest rooms and apartment suites, which had raised suspicion of corruption and abuse of power.
It is believed that FIC paid between RM40 million and RM50 million higher than the market value of the hotel.
FIC is the investment arm of Felda.
Last week, MACC recorded statements from FIC’s three former board members — Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, Datuk Nik Azman Mohamed Zain and Datuk Dr Omar Salim.
Later, Felda Legal Division director Helwani Lukman and another lawyer, believed to be the partner of the lawyer arrested by MACC two weeks ago, were summoned for questioning.
Ten people, including Isa, have been arrested and more than 30 witnesses have had their statements recorded.
Among those remanded were former FIC chief executive officer Zaid Abdul Jalil and Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, who was the former press secretary to Isa when he was chairman.
