KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested six people, two of whom are Datuks, to assist its probe into the controversial RM1.18 billion Ijok land deal involving the PKR-led Selangor government.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said the six, aged between 34 and 84, were arrested in Putrajaya and MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya between 12.45pm and 4pm today.
Among them, he said, are a father and son.
The commission’s probe, he said, involves a transaction of around RM200 million to five companies, with each receiving around RM68 million, RM62 million, RM42 million, RM16.5 million, and RM8.5 million.
He said MACC has also seized several important documents from three related companies to assist the investigation.
Investigators, he added, have seized nine personal and company bank accounts worth RM39 million owned by all the suspects.
The issue first came to light in February when Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications director, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, urged Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, to clarify as to why the Selangor government had handed over a plot of land worth RM1.18 billion in Ijok to two developers, Mujur Zaman Sdn Bhd and LCBN Development Sdn Bhd in 2016.
The 880-acre plot was purchased by the two developers in 1998, but seized by the Selangor government, then under the administration of former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, under the National Land Code following a breach of terms and conditions of the agreement.
The seizure was made after the developers had allegedly failed to develop the land. The developers brought the case to court. It was set to be heard in the Federal Court when Azmin’s administration struck a settlement with the developers, a move which has since been criticised by several quarters.
Khalid has since urged the authorities to probe the deal.
On Feb 22, MACC reportedly raided five companies and seized documents over the land sale.
Earlier this month, MACC said they have conducted a forensic audit on five companies’ accounts related to the Ijok land issue. MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki had said the commission were identifying any suspicious transactions made among the accounts.
He said individuals involved directly to the companies, including the directors and accountants have been called to give their statements to facilitate investigations.