MACC DETAINS ISA SAMAD’S EX-AIDE
He and FIC’s former CEO are remanded to assist in investigations
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) has obtained a five-day remand order against Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, former special officer to ex-Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad.
He was remanded to assist in investigations into Felda Investment Corporation’s (FIC) purchase of a luxury hotel in Kuching, Sarawak.
Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Wan Ab Rahman issued the remand order against the 51-year-old, which will expire on Saturday.
The suspect, who appeared calm, arrived at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court here at 2.20pm yesterday.
According to his lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, the suspect was picked up from his residence in Kuala Lumpur at 12.30am and arrested at the commission’s headquarters here at 4am yesterday.
The suspect was the fourth individual brought in to assist in the probe into the purchase of the luxury hotel.
His case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Last week, three individuals were detained by the MACC to assist in investigations.
Meanwhile, MACC has obtained a fourday remand order starting today against Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) former chief executive officer Zaid Abdul Jalil.
He was remanded to assist in investigations into the company’s purchase of a high-end property in London.
The remand order against the 46-yearold was issued by magistrate Nik Isfahanie Wan Ab Rahman and will expire on Friday.
Handcuffed and clad in an orange lock-up attire, Zaid was brought in a wheelchair to the magistrate's court for his remand hearing at 9.20am.
His lawyer, Fahmi Abdul Moin, said Zaid was suffering from slipped disc and muscle spasms and was undergoing treatment at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
According to an MACC officer, Zaid is serving as the CEO of a government-linked company based in Negri Sembilan.
He was detained by the commission at 9.30pm last night after 12 hours of questioning.
The arrest was to facilitate investigations into FIC’s purchase of a high-end property in Kensington, London, between 2013 and 2015, for a total of £60 million (RM330 million). FIC is the investment arm of Felda.
His case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.
Last month, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad directed his team to open investigation papers into the hotel deal in London to determine if abuse of power or corruption were involved in the transaction.
Its chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said FIC was believed to have purchased the hotel at a price that was far higher than its original value, which caused FIC to lose millions of ringgit.