Federal Court sets Oct 29 to hear appeal against Isa Samad's acquittal

The Federal Court has fixed Oct 29 for the hearing of the prosecution’s appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former Felda chairperson Isa Abdul Samad.

Isa, 75, was acquitted of all nine corruption charges involving RM3 million in connection with the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said the hearing date was set by deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yussof during an online case management proceeding today.

“All parties are required to file their written submissions two weeks before the appeal hearing,” Afzainizam said when contacted.

Isa’s counsel Siti Sarah Khalil said the court has directed parties to file their submissions on or before Oct 14, with the next case management fixed for Oct 15.

The prosecution filed its notice of appeal on March 7, 2024, and petition of appeal on June 26, advancing 24 grounds to support its contention that the Court of Appeal erred in law and fact when it acquitted Mohd Isa of all charges.

On March 6, 2024, a three-member Court of Appeal panel comprising Justice Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera (now a Federal Court judge), Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and SM Komathy Suppiah set aside Isa’s conviction and six-year sentence, as well as the RM15.45 million fine imposed by the High Court on Feb 3, 2021.

The former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar was charged in 2018 with nine counts of receiving RM3,090,000 in bribes from Ikhwan Zaidel, a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through his former special political officer, Zahid Md Arip, as an inducement for facilitating Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd’s approval to purchase the hotel for RM160 million.

The offences allegedly took place at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015.

He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

- Bernama

Prosecution argues Court of Appeal wrong to acquit ex-Felda chair

Isa Samad, ex-CEO Emir ordered to pay FGV RM3.3m over condo purchase

Prosecutors appeal to reinstate guilty verdict against Isa Samad

Isa Samad walks free from hotel graft case

Nov 28 verdict on Isa's appeal against graft conviction, jail sentence