THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today set five days from January 13 to hear the suit filed by the government seeking RM253.6 million which was loaned to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and managed by the husband and three children of former women, family and community development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Judicial commissioner Anand Ponnudurai fixed the dates in chambers today, in the presence of senior federal counsel Mohd Radhi Abas and federal counsel Mohd Ashraf Abd Hamid, who represented the government, and lawyer Rajan Navaratnam, who appeared on behalf of NFC.

Rajan told reporters that the court fixed January 13, 14, 15, 17 and 20 for hearing, and January 8 for case management.

“So far, both the plaintiff and defendants have prepared seven witnesses to testify. Today, the court has also given directions for both parties to file common bundle of documents, witness statements and chronology of events by January 8,” he said.

Asked about the possibility for an out-of-court settlement, Rajan said there was no settlement yet, but the defendants are exploring that possibility. 

In its claim, the government as the sole plaintiff, named NFC as the first defendant, while Shahrizat’s husband, Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and their three children, Wan Shahinur Izran, Wan Shahinur Izmir and Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah, are the second to fifth defendants respectively.

Other defendants are six companies controlled by Salleh’s family – National Meat & Livestock Corporation Sdn Bhd, Real Food Corporation Sdn Bhd, Meatworks Corporation Sdn  Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, Asian Bioscience Corporation Sdn Bhd, and Techknowlogy Imageware (M) Sdn Bhd.

Among others, the government is seeking a declaration that Salleh’s family is responsible for the repayment of the loan. Putrajaya is also making a claim for the undeclared profits accruing from the mismanagement of the funds loaned, as well as property purchased with the funds.

The government entered into an agreement with NFC on December 6, 2007, for a RM250 million loan, a portion of which was used to fund the establishment and operations of the National Feedlot Centre in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, in line with the government’s policy to develop and advance beef production and beef products. 

The loan was disbursed by the government to NFC in three tranches. 

Salleh’s family made 10 withdrawals totalling RM180.51 million from January 24, 2008, to January 3, 2011. 

Of the RM180.51 million withdrawn, only RM8.32 million was paid directly to third parties to conduct the National Feedlot Centre project. The balance of the withdrawn funds was transferred to other NFC accounts and a total of RM118.04 million from this balance was allegedly misused.

Included in the alleged misuse of funds is RM9.76 million allegedly used to purchase one of two units at One Menerung Residence. This was allegedly conducted by the sixth defendant, the National Meat & Livestock Corp. 

At the same time, it is alleged that a total of RM300,000 was used to pay to an individual named Shamsubarin Ismail for undisclosed purposes and an additional RM1.8 million was paid to the same individual.

 Salleh’s family also allegedly used the funds loaned from the government to settle monthly rental amounting to RM28,000 for an office lot at Solaris Mont Kiara.

Other alleged expenditure made with the loaned money included the purchase of two plots of land in Putrajaya, payment to two legal firms and the purchase of a four-storey shop house in Solaris Mont Kiara. – Bernama, December 18, 2019.