JJPTR boss may be hauled up
> Case under Bukit Aman’s purview, says Penang CPO
GEORGE TOWN: Police investigating troubled high-yield investment company JJ Poor-to-Rich (JJPTR) are expected to summon its founder Johnson Lee for questioning.
State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye, however, said the case is being handled by a task force from Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission Malaysia and National Revenue Recovery Enforcement Team.
“There are no arrests so far but if the need arises, we will do so. I cannot reveal further as the case comes under Bukit Aman’s purview” he said at a Community Policing event yesterday when asked on whether Lee has been called up to facilitate the probe.
He said two police reports had been lodged to date and urged others who were involved in investing in the scheme to do so as well.
Chuah said the scheme raked in a whopping RM1.7 billion in investments by the public since it kicked off two years ago.
He added 19 company staff and investors, aged between 23 and 40, were detained and freed after their statements were recorded.
Police carried out eight raids on the company’s offices and homes of its operators in Penang on Friday.
Federal police CCID director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the case is classified as cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code and police also seized piles of documents, computers, banknote counting machines, closed-circuit television camera recordings and RM3,300 in cash in the raids.
He said police have also initiated action to freeze the bank accounts of the company under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
Yesterday, Lee, in a statement in Mandarin circulated on social media, assured investors that the matter will be resolved.
He said a new 35% scheme as promised by him will start today while he will attend an event in Kuala Lumpur on May 20 as planned.
He insisted JJPTR will be operating as usual and he would not abscond as alleged by certain quarters.
“Time will prove everything,” he said.