Ex-FIC big guns remanded
Duo held over probe into purchase of hotels in London and Kuching
PUTRAJAYA: Lawyers for former Felda Investment Corp (FIC) CEO Zaid Abdul Jalil had hoped his medical condition would spare him from further physical agony during the probe by anti-graft investigators into the company’s purchase of a high-end property in London.
Lawyers Fahmi Abdul Muin and Azra Kamarudin told the court their client was suffering from slipped disc and muscle spasm and was given a medical certificate (MC) from the doctor who attended to him at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
However, magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab Rahman granted an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to remand the 46-yearold for four days until Aug 4.
Zaid arrived at the court complex at 9.20am yesterday in a wheelchair. He was arrested at the MACC headquarters on Monday after being questioned for close to 12 hours.
Last week, two former key officials of a valuation firm were arrested in connection with the London property purchase.
The London hotel was said to have been bought for at least £20mil (RM112mil) above its value.
Later, a lawyer representing an aide to the former Felda chairman – who was remanded to help investigation into FIC’s purchase of a hotel in Kuching in 2014 – complained to the court over the manner in which his client was hauled up.
Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said Mohd Zahid Md Arip was picked up at his house in Kuala Lumpur at 12.30am yesterday despite assurances given to the MACC that he would turn up at the headquarters to give his statement during office hours.
Mohd Zahid, 51, was special officer to former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.
“Why must my client be treated differently from Isa Samad? He (Mohd Zahid) is also helping in the investigation,” argued Muhammad Rafique.
While the lawyer told the court there was no need for the MACC to remand his client, magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim allowed a five-day remand order until Aug 5.
A calm Mohd Zahid actually stopped for the cameras before he was gently nudged by the escorting officers to continue walking towards the courtroom.
His family members managed to talk and hug him before he was taken back to the MACC lock-up.
Zahid is the fourth person to be remanded in the ongoing investigations into FIC’s purchase of the Kuching hotel, which was believed to have been bought at between RM40mil and RM50mil above its actual value. The hotel, strategically located in the heart of Kuching, was bought by the FIC for RM160mil.