‘PROBE HAS STARTED’
Task force to take statements once suspects are back from holidays, says IGP
POLICE say it is premature to draw conclusions on the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) land controversy. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said this was because the investigation was at its initial stages.
He said the special task force formed to probe the deal was working on the case, but faced a number of obstacles due to the holidays.
“This is a very important case and we are trying to do our best during the festive season.
“Once they (everyone involved) are all back (from their holidays), we will start taking statements… we know what to do,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Fuzi said the task force, formed a day after Felda lodged a police report on the matter on Dec 12, was being led by the Commercial Crime Department.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 and Section 471 of the Penal Code for cheating and forgery.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim said Felda would leave it to the police to investigate if there were criminal elements in the sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) between Felda and land developer Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd.
Berita Harian , in an exclusive report on Thursday, said Felda could lose ownership rights of the strategic land due to questionable transactions since 2015.
In an agreement between Felda’s investment arm, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd, and Synergy Promenade, the latter was tasked with developing the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City project, which comprises seven towers, including Felda Tower, to be known as KLVC Tower 1A.
The office complex would have 59 floors of office space, a twofloor office podium with parking lots, a six-floor car park, a twostorey underground car park, a rooftop garden, as well as a helipad.
The market value of the Felda land in Jalan Semarak slated for the development is reported to be RM1 billion, significantly higher than the RM270 million it was sold for.
Razali said while police investigations continued, Felda would move forward with a civil suit.
He said the civil suit might take a long time and would affect the project, but it would ensure that all parties responsible were held accountable.
“We plan to carry out forensic auditing on everything and everyone involved.
“Once we put everything together, only then can we see the bigger picture of what happened,” he said.