Datuks nabbed in Gatco probe

Suspects arrested by MACC are from famous restaurant chain

PETALING JAYA: Two Datuks have been nabbed by the anti-graft body in the Great Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco) probe as investigations into the case move into high gear.

Sources said the first suspect, aged 58, was picked up at 11.40am yesterday in the Klang Valley.

Another team of officers detained the second suspect, aged 54, about one hour later.

Both men are said to be related to one another.

It is understood that one of the suspects is the founder and chief executive officer of a famous restaurant chain and companies.

The other suspect is the chain’s chief operating officer.

Both men also held top posts in one of the companies under investigation in the Gatco probe.

Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) director of investigations Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani confirmed the arrests.

They will be held overnight and brought to the court in Putrajaya today to be remanded.

Last week, the MACC arrested a 69-year-old suspect to assist in the land deal.

This came following MACC raids at five locations in the Klang Valley and Seremban on Aug 29.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad announced the setting up of a special task force to investigate the issue following information acquired from the Gatco Settlers Action Committee.

A group of settlers who invested in the scheme alleged there was corruption when the land was disposed of 13 years ago.

The conflict over the ownership of the land dated back to 1977 when Gatco was incorporated.

The company was formed by the National Union of Plantation Workers for the purpose of a land development scheme for its members.

This land was acquired from the Negri Sembilan State Development Corporation (NSSDC) under a 99-year lease.

As part of the scheme, settlers paid a RM7,600 deposit each for their allocated plot of land.

However, the scheme failed and Gatco went bankrupt.

The appointed liquidators began negotiations to sell the land and it was sold to Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd in 2006, kicking off the dispute.

The 2,000ha Gatco estate was previously a sugarcane plantation owned by Syarikat Gula Negeri Sembilan and following its closure, the land was leased to the NSSDC.