Sorry for the shame, but I'm innocent: Khir to family, friends
Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo today apologised to his family, friends and supporters for embarrassing them after being found guilty of corruption.
However, the 50-year-old dentist turned politician maintained his innocence.
"I apologise to my family, friends, and supporters who may have suffered shame because of this case. I also want to thank them for their words of courage and sympathy.
"(But) I wish to state that throughout the trial, the public prosecutor never produced any facts that there was any element of corruption.
"Basically, an element of corruption should be in the form of kickbacks for me for approving something for Shamsudin Hayroni," he wrote in a blog post published moments after he was slapped with a 12-month prison sentence this afternoon.
Khir begins his jail sentence from today at the Kajang prison.
The Federal Court last week ruled Khir guilty of receiving for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik two plots of land at No 8 and 10, Jalan Suasa 7/11, Shah Alam valued at RM3.5 million from Shamsudin, who is the director of Ditamas Sdn Bhd.
The apex court said the value of the land should have been much higher at RM5.5 million, as found by two valuation officers.
Khir, however, said there was no evidence he had given Shamsudin anything in return for a lower price.
"What they have is only a support letter for Shamsudin's company, something which I have done for scores if not hundreds of other companies," he said.
Khir said if he had wanted to take a bribe, he would have asked for the land for free in the name of a proxy.
Instead he maintains he had the land price valuated, and bought the land with a bank loan.
"To this day I still have more than RM2 million left to pay. Does this show that I am corrupt?" he asked.
Khir said he continues to remain in the dark as to what was the appropriate amount he should have paid for the property.
As such, he proposed that the government set up a committee to determine what prices should be paid in cases such as his, to avoid any further entrapment.
Khir also forgave his critics, especially social media users, whom he said would be rejoicing and cursing him as a corrupt man.
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