Former Felda chief Isa Samad convicted of nine corruption charges

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was found guilty of nine corruption charges involving RM3 million by the High Court here today.

Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, when delivering his judgment, said that the prosecution provided sufficient evidence to prove their charges against the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar beyond reasonable doubt.

Mohd Nazlan added that Isa’s defense failed to successfully disprove the prosecution’s case against Isa Samad, that their defence was based on afterthoughts, had an inconsistent narrative, and was without proper evidence to back their arguments.

“The defence has failed to raise reasonable doubt and the prosecution has managed to prove their case as stated in all nine charges.

“With that, this court finds the accused guilty and is convicted for all the nine charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act,” said Nazlan

All the offences were allegedly committed at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC near here between July 21,2014, and Dec 11,2015.

Isa was charged with nine counts of dishonestly receiving gratification for himself, in cash totaling RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan, who is a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through one Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, as gratification for helping to approve the purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) by FIC for RM160mil.

The hearing of the case began on Oct 8,2019, with the prosecution calling 22 witnesses to testify, including former Felda director-general Datuk Hanapi Suhada.

All the charges were framed under Section 16a(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides for a jail term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount, RM10,000 or whichever is higher upon conviction