In hot seat: Several cars, one of which is believed to be ferrying Abdul Latif, entering the MACC complex in Johor Baru.
PETALING JAYA: Johor state executive councillor Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi has been arrested over the massive housing and land scandal in Johor.
Abdul Latif was detained at about 11am yesterday at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Johor Baru where he was summoned again for questioning.
Last week, Abdul Latif was questioned there for four hours.
It is learnt that MACC had been tailing Abdul Latif for days and keeping track of his whereabouts, prior to yesterday’s arrest.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad, who was at that time on a visit to Menara Star here, confirmed the news immediately after the arrest.
The news was uploaded on The Star website within minutes of the arrest.
Shortly after Abdul Latif’s arrest, MACC officers seized an array of items at his home in Johor, including 150 luxury handbags, RM41,000 cash and a luxury vehicle.
The handbags included brands such as Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo and Louis Vuitton.
Abdul Latif is expected to be brought to the Johor Baru court today to be remanded.
He would be investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act and Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
The MACC urged the public not to speculate on the case and to allow anti-graft officers to carry out a thorough probe.
On Feb 24, Abdul Latif’s eldest son Ahmad Fauzan and his special officer Muhammad Idzuan Jamalludin, were detained by the MACC in a swoop.
Abdul Latif was the Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman and had opted to go on leave pending an investigation into the case.
Following the arrest of his son and special officer, Abdul Latif had kept mum on the matter.
He had also not been seen in public.
About RM15.5mil in more than 45 accounts was frozen as part of the probe. Also seized were 21 luxury cars, five high-powered motorcycles and stacks of documents.
A lawyer, two developers, a contractor as well as another suspect were also arrested in a series of raids.
All seven suspects, aged between 25 and 50, have been released on bail after their remand expired.
So far, the MACC has called in 15 people to have their statements recorded.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin expressed sympathy for Abdul Latif over the arrest.
“We sympathise with him (Abdul Latiff) and leave it to the MACC in the interest of justice,” Mohamed Khaled told reporters outside the state assembly hall in Iskandar Puteri yesterday.
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