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Appellate court reserves judgment over Isa Samad's corruption appeal
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment over former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad’s appeal to quash his conviction as well as a six-year jail sentence and RM15.45 million over a corruption case linked to the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak.
A three-person appellate bench chaired by Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera this afternoon informed defence counsel Sallehuddin Saidin and deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz that the court registrar would inform parties of the decision date.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment over former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad’s appeal to quash his conviction as well as a six-year jail sentence and RM15.45 million fine over a corruption case linked to the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak.
A three-person appellate bench chaired by Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera this afternoon informed defence counsel Sallehuddin Saidin and deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz that the court registrar would inform parties of the decision date.
The appellate bench, which also comprised judges Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and SM Komathy Suppiah, earlier today was hearing the parties’ oral submissions on Isa’s graft appeal linked to the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB).
The 73-year-old appellant was seen in the dock looking on during the appeal hearing at the Palace of Justice, Putrajaya.
On Feb 3, 2021, then High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ruled that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case against Isa (above).
In issuing the guilty verdict and sentencing, the judge said while the accused has a long-standing contribution to society, it must be emphasised that corruption is serious as it threatens economic growth as well as the sovereignty of the country's law and denies the people from receiving efficient service.
Nazlan ordered Isa to serve an additional 18 years in jail in default of payment of the total fine.
However, the judge allowed the defence's application for a stay of execution on the jail and fine, pending the disposal of the accused's appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Nazlan was elevated to the Court of Appeal in February this year.
Nine counts
Isa is out on bail of RM1.5 million and was ordered by the High Court to report to the nearest police station on the first day of every month until the disposal of the appeal.
Isa was charged with nine counts of dishonestly receiving gratification for himself in cash totalling RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan Zaidel who is a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd through one Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.
The money was purportedly gratification for helping to approve the purchase of the hotel by FICSB for RM160 million.
The offences were allegedly perpetrated at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC, between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015.
The nine charges, framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law.
Initially charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in December 2018, his case was later transferred to the High Court in April 2019.
During the criminal trial that began on Oct 8, 2019, the prosecution called 15 people to testify against the accused.
The defence team led by Sallehuddin relied on six witnesses to testify on behalf of Isa, who was Negeri Sembilan menteri besar for 22 years from 1982 to 2004.
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