MACC widens net on fish farm arrests

More, including high-profile individuals, might be called in later.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has called in 24 people for questioning over a fish farm, and says it will not stop there.

This is in relation to a RM47.6 million sturgeon farm project in Pahang, which has already seen a datuk and a former deputy director of Felda arrested.

MACC investigations director Simi Abdul Ghani, in a report by Sinar Harian, said the 24 individuals were summoned to have their statements recorded, and more might be called in later.

In a previous report by the Malay daily, the national anti-graft agency said several other high-profile individuals may also be investigated.

Among those already arrested were a 57-year-old datuk, a 53-year-old former deputy director at Felda, a former operations officer for the project, an administrative officer and a Felda officer from its office overseas.

They had allegedly abused their position for personal gain by approving a deal without the approval of the Felda board of directors.

Bernama earlier this week quoted a source from MACC as saying that the Felda board, at a meeting in January 2013, had asked one of the suspects to submit a detailed report on investments in the project.

But this suspect, without the knowledge of Felda’s board or its Legal and Financial Division, had set up Felda Carviative Sdn Bhd (FCSB) in January 2014.

He then signed an agreement with a sturgeon farming company in South Korea worth US$45 million (RM146.25 million) without the knowledge of the Felda board.

The source also said the suspect had approved about US$10 million (RM47.6 million) of Felda funds to make payments to the Korean company through FCSB, without the knowledge or approval of the board.

Initial investigations by MACC found that the project did not get the approval from the Pahang Department of Environment and that a downpayment was made to the Korean company a week after FCSB was incorporated. -FMT