Old Chang Kee 'not related' to football club probe, says curry puff maker

HOMEGROWN food chain Old Chang Kee has maintained that it is "not related" to the ongoing turmoil sweeping Singapore's football scene, even as one of its independent directors is being investigated by the police.

One of Old Chang Kee's independent directors, Zainudin Nordin, is being interviewed by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force in his capacity as former president of the Football Association of Singapore, the Catalist-listed curry puff chain said in a filing with the Singapore Exchange after market close on Monday.

This is in connection with the ongoing police probe into the alleged misuse of Tiong Bahru Football Club funds.

The probe came after the national sport governing body Sport Singapore (SportSG) made a police report against Tiong Bahru last week over a controversy involving a S$500,000 donation by Tiong Bahru. For reasons still being investigated, the sum ended up with the Asean Football Federation (AFF).

An AFF council member had said in a Straits Times report that Mr Zainudin, a former chief of the Football Association of Singapore, had helped AFF secure the donation.

The CAD also notified Old Chang Kee's board that Mr Zainudin, also a former Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP, has handed over his travel documents to the CAD to facilitate investigations.

"The board wishes to emphasise that the matters are not related to the company and the business and operations of the group are not affected in any way by the investigations and will continue as normal," said the filing.

Old Chang Kee's counter rose by one Singapore cent to close on Monday at S$0.850.