Third Datuk nabbed over Ijok land deal
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) nabbed a third Datuk in connection with the Ijok land deal, bringing the number of suspects to seven in the case.
The 53-year-old suspect was detained at the MACC headquarters here after having his statement taken by the commission’s officers yesterday.
MACC Investigation Department senior director Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani confirmed the arrest.
It was understood that in follow-up operations, the commission had frozen several bank accounts comprising RM47 million, bringing the total funds frozen to RM86 million.
Six people, including two Datuk, were remanded for four days beginning yesterday to assist a MACC probe into a controversial RM1.18 billion Ijok land deal involving the PKR-led Selangor government.
The six, handcuffed and flanked by MACC officers, arrived at the magistrate’s court at 9am.
Magistrate Khir Nizam Jemari issued the remand order.
The six, aged between 34 and 84, were reportedly detained in Petaling Jaya and the MACC headquarters here between 12.45pm and 4pm on Tuesday. Among them are a father and son.
MACC is believed to be focusing on a RM200 million payout to five companies, with each having received around RM68 million, RM62 million, RM42 million, RM16.5 million and RM8.5 million.
The graft busters had seized documents from three related companies and froze nine individual and company bank accounts, worth RM39 million, owned by the six, to help the investigation.
The issue first came to light last month when Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan urged Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to clarify why the Selangor government had handed over a plot of land worth RM1.18 billion in Ijok to two developers, Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd and LCBN Development Sdn Bhd, in 2016.
The land was bought by the two developers in 1998, but seized by the Selangor government, then under the administration of former menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, under the National Land Code following a breach of terms and conditions of the agreement.
The seizure was made after the developers had allegedly failed to develop the land.
The developers took the case to court. It was set to be heard in the Federal Court when Azmin’s administration struck a settlement with the developers, a move criticised by several quarters.
Khalid has urged the authorities to probe the deal.
On Feb 22, MACC reportedly raided five companies and seized documents over the land sale.
Earlier this month, MACC said it had conducted a forensic audit of five companies’ accounts related to the Ijok land issue.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki had said the commission was identifying suspicious transactions in the accounts.
He said individuals involved directly with the companies, including the directors and accountants, had been called to give their statements to facilitate investigations.