KUALA LUMPUR – All eyes are today on the high court here, which is scheduled to deliver its verdict on former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad’s nine corruption charges involving RM3 million related to the agency’s purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak.
Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is expected to deliver his ruling at 9.30am.
Isa, 71, has been charged with nine counts of dishonestly receiving gratification for himself, in the form of cash totalling RM3.09 million, from Ikhwan Zaidel, a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through former aide Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, for helping approve the purchase of the hotel by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd at a price tag of RM160 million.
The offences were allegedly committed on Level 49 of Menara Felda in Platinum Park here between July 21, 2014 and December 11, 2015.
The charges are under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides a jail term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, while lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin heads the defence. – Bernama, February 3, 2021
