FIC’s ex-CEO arrested
Sources link arrest to probe on the body’s purchase of a high-end property in London
He is nabbed by MACC in its probe into the purchase of a high-end property in London.
PUTRAJAYA: Former Felda Investment Corp (FIC) CEO Zaid Abdul Jalil was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with sources connecting it to the investigation on the body’s purchase of a high-end property in Kensington, London.
He arrived at the MACC headquarters here at about 9.30am yesterday and was questioned for several hours.
FIC vehicles were seen bringing individuals, believed to be its legal advisers, to the building around the same time.
Members of the press gathered outside the building in a bid to interview Zaid, but by night time there was still no sign of him leaving.
MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani later confirmed that Zaid was arrested at about 9.30pm.
He will be brought to the court today for remand proceedings.
FIC is the investment arm of Felda. Last week, two former key officials of a valuation firm were arrested in connection with the London property probe.
The probe came after leads were obtained during the ongoing probe into FIC’s acquisition of the hotel in the upmarket Kensington area.
The London hotel, comprising 62 units of guest rooms and two units of three-bedroom serviced apartments, was also said to be overpaid by at least £20mil (RM112mil).
In a separate probe last week, three men were arrested over FIC’s purchase of a posh hotel in Kuching.
The arrest came barely 24 hours after MACC officers visited six locations – three in the Klang Valley and three in Kuching – to gather evidence for the investigation.
Two of the suspects, aged 47 and 51, were reportedly directors of a company appointed as the agent to handle the purchase in 2014.
Both men were summoned to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to give their statements.
They were immediately arrested and later taken to court to be remanded.
The other suspect was detained at the Kuching MACC office.