Wednesday October 3, 2012

Genneva investors still in shock

Reports by REGINA LEE, DAVID TAN, TERENCE TOH, KOW KWAN YEE, QISHIN TARIQ, and EDMUND NGO

PETALING JAYA: Investors of gold trading scheme Genneva Malaysia Sdn Bhd were still in shock a day after an investigative raid on the company.

Anxious and confused over the scope of investigations, hundreds of them converged at the company's headquarters in Jalan Kuchai Maju 6, here, and its office in Penang, demanding answers.

However, Bank Negara Malaysia spokesman Lee Poh Fong said a statement would only be issued after investigations had concluded.

“There is nothing wrong with gold trading but we want investors to be careful against those promising high returns,” she said, referring to a previous press release issued on Sept 5.

Looking for answers: Some 100 consultants and customers being ushered into a meeting room for a briefing session conducted by Genneva regional director Datuk Joseph Kow at the branch office in Gelugor, Penang.

According to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Affairs Ministry's enforcement division, one of the four government agencies involved in the raid of the firm, the action was in response to numerous complaints by investors.

Division head Mohd Roslan Mahayudin said besides Bank Negara, the lead agency heading the operations and investigations, the ministry had also been receiving complaints over the past four months from people who had allegedly lost their investments.

“The decision to raid Genneva was carried out by a task force led by BNM to probe get-rich-quick schemes,” he said.

Sources familiar with the investigations said the company was being investigated for offences under money-laundering and deposit-taking laws.

Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department conducted a similar swoop on Genneva Pte Ltd's Orchard Towers offices in the city-state on Monday.

Shocked investors and agents of Genneva Malaysia Sdn Bhd crowded the company’s offices in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, anxious to find out if their gold trade investments are safe in the wake of the raid by several government agencies.

Genneva has ceased all transactions pending the outcome of the investigations.

In a public statement posted on its Facebook page and website, the firm urged agents and customers to stay calm while it settled the issues with the authorities.

In GEORGE TOWN, a senior official of the company claimed that Genneva had not violated any laws.

The official, who wished to remain unnamed, said the firm wrote to the Finance Ministry earlier this year for guidance on gold trading and had also given its views on the business.

He said the ministry replied that a meeting would be arranged to listen to Genneva's views and suggestions on gold trading.

“So far, there has been no feedback on when the meeting will be held. We thank our customers for supporting us. We are purely a gold trading company. We will work hard to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

“We urge our consultants and customers to remain calm for the time being,” added the official.

News

Wednesday October 3, 2012

Genneva investors still in shock

Reports by REGINA LEE, DAVID TAN, TERENCE TOH, KOW KWAN YEE, QISHIN TARIQ, and EDMUND NGO