Isa Samad to be charged tomorrow over hotel purchase, says MACC

Former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad will be charged by MACC tomorrow in relation to its probe into Felda Investment Corporation's (FIC) hotel purchases.  

"The MACC has received consent to prosecute from the Attorney-General's Chambers in order to charge former Felda chairperson and former FIC board member and director Mohd Isa Abdul Samad in court tomorrow," MACC said in a press statement today.

'He will be charged at 9am at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in relation to the probe into FIC's hotel purchases," MACC added. 

The anti-graft agency also said that Isa had visited its Putrajaya headquarters this morning to sign a notice of undertaking to attend court tomorrow. 

Earlier, sources close to the MACC probe into the matter told Malaysiakini that Isa would be charged in relation to alleged corruption in FIC's purchase of a hotel in Kuching. 

The sources said that investigators planned to press charges against Isa under Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009, which stipulates the offence of giving or accepting gratification by an agent.

"According to the plan, he (Isa) will be charged tomorrow... over (the purchase of) hotel in Sarawak," said one of the sources when contacted today.

Malaysiakini is seeking confirmation regarding the sources’ comments from MACC deputy chief commissioner of operations Azam Baki.

According to The Star Online, Isa is expected to face a number of charges including criminal breach of trust. 

The daily also reported that Isa had been summoned to meet MACC investigators today where they would record his statement as final preparation before charging Isa in court.

Isa, who is a former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, was arrested by MACC in August last year in connection with the purchase of two hotels by the Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) in London and Kuching respectively between 2014 and 2015.

It was reported that investigators had also raided his residence in Selangor.

Previously, according to MACC, the purchase of the two hotels by FIC at prices much higher than the original caused the subsidiary to suffer millions of ringgit in losses.

FIC reportedly bought the hotel in Kensington, London, for £60 million (about RM330 million) on Dec 16, 2014, while the Kuching four-star hotel was also purchased at a bloated price.

MACC had earlier cleared the FIC of any wrongdoing pertaining to the London hotel purchase in May 2015, but re-opened investigations after new evidence surfaced.

Isa Samad denies sponsoring 'Nasi Arab', says it was his supporters

Despite boycott, MIC members campaign for Isa Samad in PD

Isa Samad has resigned as Spad boss, minister says

On fraud findings, Isa Samad says 'nothing to do' with Felda anymore