Isa a suspect, not witness
> MACC confirms ex-FGV chairman being probed over purchase of hotels
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) has denied claims that Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad ( pix) was only questioned as a witness over the purchase of two hotels by Felda Investment Corp (FIC).
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki, confirmed the former Felda Global Ventures (FGV) chairman is indeed a suspect in the case.
“When we arrest and remand a person and the magistrate grants the remand, that shows he is under investigation.
“Of course (he’s a suspect). If you are being arrested, you are my suspect. I just want to make it clear that any person arrested is a suspect,” he told reporters after attending a corruption-free pledge ceremony at the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday.
Isa’s lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran had said on Sunday his client was only assisting MACC in the investigation, and was not as a suspect, over the purchase of the Grand Plaza Kensington Hotel in London and the Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites in Kuching, Sarawak.
Isa, who is now acting Land Public Transport Commission chairman, was detained by MACC last Tuesday and released on a RM150,000 bail on Sunday following a five-day remand.
In urging all quarters to be patient as MACC completes the probe, Azam said Isa might be hauled up again for questioning.
“Give us some time to complete the investigation. I can’t disclose too much about when it will be completed, just be patient.
“There are a lot of possibilities, so we will complete the investigation and later forward it to the deputy public prosecutor for the next course of action.”
On a separate matter, Azam denied MACC had leaked information relating to investigations on Penang exco member Phee Boon Poh, after he was remanded on Aug 10 to assist in a probe over an illegal carbon-filter factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.
Phee, who was released last Monday, denied having RM2 million in his personal bank accounts as reported in several newspapers yesterday, and questioned the source of such information.
“We never leak any of our investigation information. I don’t know where the media got it from, so I don’t want to comment,” Azam said.
He declined comment when asked if it was true there was RM2 million in Phee’s accounts.