KUALA LUMPUR – Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, who was convicted of nine corruption charges involving RM3 million yesterday in connection with the agency’s purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak, settled the additional bail payment of RM700,000 today, as ordered by the high court.
Isa, 71, who was in a blue shirt, arrived at the courthouse at 10.36am with his wife, Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, who is his guarantor, and then left at 1.52pm after making the payment at the criminal registration counter of the high court.
While photographers were taking shots of him at the court lobby, Isa startled them as he playfully lunged at them before heading towards his car.
“Keep your distance…follow the standard operating procedures, otherwise pay a fine of RM1,000,” he said to the laughter of media members present.
Yesterday, the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar was ordered to pay an additional bail of RM700,000 after the court allowed the defence’s application for a stay of the sentences against him pending his appeal at the Court of Appeal.
He was also ordered to report himself at the nearest police station on the first of every month pending the disposal of the appeal.
Yesterday, high court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali sentenced Isa to a total of 54 years in prison and a fine of RM15.45 million, in default of 18 years’ jail, after finding him guilty of nine counts of corruption involving RM3 million over the agency’s purchase of MPHS.
He was sentenced to six years’ jail on each count of the charges.
However, Isa only has to serve six years in prison after the judge ordered the prison sentences to be served concurrently.
Meanwhile, he has also filed a notice of appeal against his conviction and sentences.
His lawyer, Siti Sarah Khalil, confirmed the matter when met at the court lobby here.
She said the notice of appeal was filed at the high court at 11am today. – Bernama, February 4, 2021
