More NFCorp charges ‘possible’, says CCID chief

UPDATED @ 03:42:13 PM 09-04-2012

By Yow Hong Chieh

April 09, 2012

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Further charges may arise from police investigations into the scandal-ridden National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said today.

The federal commercial crimes police chief said this was because the probe into the cattle-rearing company’s alleged misuse of public funds was ongoing, and was far from being concluded.

“I won’t discount the possibility (more charges could be levelled),” he told a small group of reporters at Bukit Aman police headquarters here.

He added that he was working closely with the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the probe and will hand them more police investigation papers when necessary.

Syed Azizan was responding to queries on the status of the probe into NFCorp’s Kazakhstan office, which The Malaysian Insider reported was worth some RM1.7 million.

“It’s tedious work because we have to chase the paper trail,” he said.

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail, runs NFCorp together with their three children — Izmir, Izran and Izzana.

On March 12, Salleh pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to two counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM49.7 million used to purchase two condominium units.

He also pleaded not guilty to two other charges under the Companies Act.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR), led by PKR, has alleged that Salleh and his family used a RM250 million federal loan for expenses unrelated to its stated goal of securing the nation’s supply of beef.

These include the acquisition of high-end condominiums in Bangsar and Singapore, as well as the alleged purchase of a Mercedes-Benz CLS350 and two plots of land in Putrajaya.

The scandal forced Shahrizat to step down as women, family and community minister yesterday when her term as senator expired. The prime minister has assumed her portfolio.

The veteran politician, however, will remain Wanita Umno chief despite calls from senior party leaders, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to give up the post.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has insisted that Shahrizat does not have to resign as head of the women’s wing as there was no proof or charge of wrongdoing that she was involved in the NFCorp scandal.

NFCorp first hit national headlines last year after the Auditor-General reported that it had missed production targets.