The police will record statements from former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad upon his return from abroad, according to the deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

According to a Bernama report, he said the police had set up a special investigation team to probe the alleged fraud in the land transfer of Felda’s Jalan Semarak property, a day after Felda lodged a police report on the matter on Dec 12.

He said the police would record Isa’s statement as well as several others before deciding on its next course of action.

“I have been made to understand that he (Isa) is not in the country at the moment. When (he) has returned, the police will record his statement,” Noor Rashid (photo) said according to the report last night.

He said the case is being investigated under Sections 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating. Upon conviction, an offence under Section 420 is punishable by imprisonment of between one to ten years with whipping, and a fine.

The case is also being investigated under Section 471 of the Penal Code, said the deputy IGP. The clause stipulates that a person who knowingly uses a forged document to commit fraud would be punished as though he had forged the document himself.

Meanwhile, Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (photo) said a thorough probe should be conducted of all parties involved in the ownership transfer of the land, according to Bernama. 

The Umno supreme council member added that the probe should cover not only Felda and Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) but also the appointed developer of the land.

"I believe that all parties need to be accountable. The people, regardless of whether the settlers or those who are not related to Felda are shocked by this issue.

“The probe must get to the root of the issue as the land in Jalan Semarak is very valuable," he said today.

On Dec 21, Berita Harian reported that Felda is at risk of losing its rights to parcels of prime land along Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur, due to “dubious transactions” during its ownership transfer in 2015.

The RM270 million land is currently being developed as part of the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City project.

Later on the same day, Felda chairperson Shahrir Samad (photo) said a police report had been lodged over the matter, and this is merely one of several options being pursued to reclaim its rights on the land.

He said Felda had not received any money for the deal.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had vowed action against any negligence or misconduct in the land ownership transfer, while Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim said there would be an independent audit next month to determine if there had been breaches of procedure within Felda or FIC.

Isa Samad was the Felda chairperson from 2011 until Shahrir took over in January this year.

He was also chairperson of Felda Global Ventures from Jan 1, 2011, to June 19 this year, as well as FIC's chairperson since the company was founded on July 2, 2013, up until earlier this year.