KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-four cases of cheating in land deals in the federal capital to the tune of RM48.5 million were detected between 2001 and now, involving individual and company owners, Federal Territory Lands and Mines Director Hasim Ismail said today.

He said 16 of the cases were under police investigation, five were awaiting the Audit Trail Report and three were being studied by the Deputy Public Prosecutor. "The land involved in the cheating cases has been placed under caveat; no deals can take place until the court decision," he told a news conference after attending the "Meet-the-Clients" Day of the Federal Territory Lands and Mines Office on May 13.

The programme was launched by Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin. Also present was Sirim Berhad chairman, Datuk Jamaliah Kamis. Hasim said the cases of cheating also involved changing the land title into the name of a third party by falsifying personal particulars.

He said the office had introduced a biometric system in 2008 whereby the primary functions were to avert cheating and ensure that transactions were carried out only with known persons.

"Two recent cases of cheating were detected early through the biometric system, and generally it helped the land administration overcome the cheating," he said. At the same news conference, Raja Nong Chik said the land transactions, especially for those eligible, should be conducted as fast as possible and in a transparent manner.
-- Bernama
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