Putrajaya sues Sharizat's husband, children to reclaim RM253m loan

Putrajaya has filed a lawsuit against the husband and three children of former Umno Wanita chief Sharizat Abdul Jalil to reclaim RM253.6 million owed to the government over national feedlot centre project.

National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail (photo below)  and his children - former NFC chief executive officer Wan Shahinur Izran snd directors Wan Shahinur Izmir and Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah - were named as defendants.

Six companies controlled by the family were also among the 11 defendants named in the suit, reported business daily The Edge.

They are National Meat & Livestock Corp Sdn Bhd, Real Food Co Sdn Bhd, Meatworks Corp Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, Asian Bioscience Corp Sdn Bhd and Techknowlogy Imageware (M) Sdn Bhd.

In the statement of claim, the government is seeking a court declaration that Salleh’s family is personally liable for the debt repayment.

This included the RM118.04 million misappropriated from the loan and secret profits arising from it, said the report.

The government also lays claim to the properties bought using RM250 million soft loan given to NFC in December 2007.

The RM250 million soft loan was to partially finance the setting up of the national feedlot centre in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan. The loan distributed was in three tranches to NFC's bank account between January 2008 and March 2009.

Salleh's family had withdrawn RM180.51 million and only RM8.32 million was paid to fund the feedlot project, while the balance of RM118.04 million was misappropriated.

This included RM8.32 million used to purchase two residential units at One Menerung 8 Residence by National Meat & Livestock Corp, RM3.36 million used to purchase two pieces of lands in Putrajaya and RM1.51 million to partially pay for a shoplot at Solaris Mond Kiara.

The government also identified RM1.8 million from the misappropriated sum used to pay to Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd founder Shamsubahrin Ismail for unknown purpose.

Shamsubahrin was acquitted and discharged on five counts of cheating Mohamad Salleh in March.

The NFC project was meant to develop an integrated and sustainable beef industry to increase local beef production by 30 percent and reduce reliance on imported beef.

However, an audit found that the project was not meeting its targets, while Mohamad Salleh was investigated and charged with alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to RM49.7 million.

He was subsequently acquitted of all charges on Nov 25, 2015. - Mkini