The govt will look into the findings of the forensic audit and ensure that justice is served

by ALIFAH ZAINUDDIN  & DASHVEENJIT KAUR / pic by BERNAMA

THE Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is expected to lodge more police reports against those involved in misconducts within the debt-laden agency based on forensic audit findings.

Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (picture) said it would be a definite action after the tabling of the Felda White Paper yesterday as justice should be served on the culprits amid mismanagement at Felda.

“Yes, certainly there would be more police reports filed after this White Paper,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Azmin said the government will look into the findings of the forensic audit and ensure that justice is served to ensure such a catastrophe doesn’t happen again.

He added that the findings of the audit report were presented to the government recently and many names have appeared to be involved in misconducts within the agency that has been plagued by various issues.

“Well, we will look at the findings of the audit report which were presented to us recently and we will ensure that all those culprits are held liable, and no abuse of power and mismanagement will take place anymore,” Azmin said.

On Tuesday, Felda lodged a police report claiming that former Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak cheated the state agency into overpaying for a 37% stake in Indonesian oil palm plantation PT Eagle High Plantations Tbk (EHP) in 2015.

Felda DG Datuk Dr Othman Omar claimed that the price was deliberately inflated by almost 450% to RM2.3 billion when it was valued at only RM440 million at the time of purchase.

Othman, who lodged the report on behalf of Felda, claimed the purchase was made on the orders of Najib when he was serving as the PM and finance minister, through special-purpose vehicle FIC Properties Sdn Bhd.

EHP is an Indonesian company with interests in oil palm plantations and the processing of palm oil. It is owned by Tan Sri Peter Sondakh, founder and head of Rajawali Group, also an Indonesian company.

Azmin highlighted that besides Najib, there are other names that involved in criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, corruption and money laundering.

“We are studying the forensic audit report and there are many names that appear under the investigations, and we will make police reports so that further actions can be taken.

“As I have said, it is a criminal offence, not just a mere negligence, and it involves the people’s billions of ringgit,” he said when asked if Najib will be charged over the RM2.7 billion used for political support during the 14th General Election.

Asked if there would be other individuals — besides those mentioned in the audit reports — who will be held liable for mismanagement, Azmin said actions will be taken only based on the investigation’s findings.

“It will be the names that we have from the forensic audit report, it is beyond our scope to hold a person accountable, if the individual’s name is not mentioned,” he added, highlighting that the government can’t merely react according to hearsay.