MACC arrests two including a 'Datuk' on suspicion of forging S&P agreements for condo units in Penang

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a man with a Datuk title and a woman on suspicion of being involved in forging the sale-and-purchase (S&P) agreements for condominium units in Penang.

An MACC source said the 39-year-old woman is the head of sales and marketing division of a housing development company.

"The 47-year-old man, who is the managing director of the company, was arrested at 6 pm yesterday at the Penang MACC office, while the woman was picked up at 6.50 pm," the source said.

Both of them were believed to be involved in forging S&P agreements by using 20 names as buyers of condominium units in Batu Feringghi allocated under Bumiputera quota.

Initial investigation found that both suspects had paid a sum of money to an 'agent' to obtain copies of identity cards from random individuals whose names were used as buyers of the Bumiputera units.

The source said the 'agent' would be paid RM3,000 for each copy of identity card used.

He said the suspects had allegedly forged the agreements with the aim to reduce the amount of contribution payment that needs to be paid by the company to the state government for the release of Bumiputera quota.

"So far, 20 witnesses have recorded their statements to facilitate in the investigations," he said.

The two suspects had also been remanded for four days from today to facilitate further investigations into the case.

Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operation) Datuk Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the arrest, saying that effort were ongoing to identify other suspects,

"We are working closely with the Penang government in this case as there is a possibility that the state government had also been duped in this case," he added.

-- BERNAMA