Police will arrest JJPTR founder if necessary

Enforcement officers load items that were seized
during a raid on JJPTR's main office, in Penang

GEORGE TOWN - Police will haul up troubled high-yield investment scheme JJ Poor To Rich (JJPTR) founder Johnson Lee to assist in investigations if the need arises.

Penang police chief Commissioner Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye however said the case was now handled by a task force from Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Department (CCID), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Securities Commission Malaysia (SSM) and other authorities.

"We will detain him if we need to but so far there is no arrest yet," he said when asked on whether Lee has been called up to facilitate the probe.

"I cannot reveal further as this is all under Bukit Aman's purview," he said after attending a Community Policing (CP) session today.

He added two police reports have been lodged so far and urged more victims to come forward.

Chuah said a whopping RM1.7 billion was collected when the scheme started two years ago.

He added statements were recorded from 19 company staff and investors during raids at several offices in Penang over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Lee, in a statement in Mandarin circulated on social media, assured investors not to worry as everything was alright.

He said a new scheme which offers 35% returns as promised by him will start tomorrow.

Lee assured that he will attend an event in Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on May 20 as planned.

He insisted JJPTR will be operating as usual and he would not try to escape as was alleged by certain quarters.

"Time will prove everything," he said, adding he will not be affected by this episode and expressed gratitude to his supportive investors for having trust in him.

A check by theSun at the company's main office in Jalan Perak showed it was quiet as no investors were present following the weekend raids.