Isa Samad ordered immediate payment of RM100mil to FICSB, court told
Wednesday, 09 Oct 20196:50 PM MYT
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KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The High Court here heard that former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad ordered the institution to urgently disburse RM100 million to Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB).
Former Felda director-general Datuk Hanapi Suhada said this in his testimony on Wednesday (Oct 9), adding that the money was for FICSB to pay Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd (GAP) for the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak.
FICSB - a subsidiary of Felda - bought MPHS for RM160 million in 2015.
The fifth prosecution witness was testifying during the examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz on the third day of Mohd Isa's trial for criminal breach of trust and nine counts of corruption involving more than RM3 million.
Hanapi, who went on who went on compulsory retirement in 2017, said he received the verbal directive from Mohd Isa in May 2015.
Afzainizam: Did you give any advice to Tan Sri Isa on the instruction?
Hanapi: No, as he was the chairman, I obeyed him.
During proceedings, Hanapi told the court that the urgent payment of RM100 million had to be made by FICSB to GAP, and it would be difficult for FICSB to own MPHS if it failed to make the payment because the deadline for the payment was near.
Hanapi said when Mohd Isa issued the directive, Felda's Board of Directors (BOD) had not made any decision on the purchase of MPHS.
Afzainizam: Do you know the document (on the RM100 million payment) that you signed was not approved by Felda BOD?
Hanapi: I didn’t know.
Afzainizam: Had it known to you that it was not approved, will you sign it?
Hanapi: I’ll not sign it.
Afzainizam: You made payment of RM100 million on Tan Sri Isa’s directive?
Hanapi: Yes.
On Dec 14,2018, Mohd Isa pleaded not guilty to one count of breach of trust, and nine counts of receiving bribes amounting to more than RM3 million.
The offences were allegedly committed at Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC between April 29,2014, and Dec 11,2015.
The hearing before Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues next Monday (Oct 14). - Bernama
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/10/09/isa-samad-ordered-immediate-payment-of-rm100mil-to-ficsb-court-told#Fdzogk9fRCfSR3kX.99
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): An assistant manager of the Jalan Raja Muda Maybank branch here told the High Court on Wednesday (Oct 9) that there was a transfer of RM100mil from Felda to its subsidiary, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB), in May 2015.
Khursiah Md Taib, 46, confirmed this when reading out her witness statement on the third day of the trial of former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad for criminal breach of trust and corruption involving more than RM3mil.
The sixth prosecution witness confirmed that there was a withdrawal transaction of RM97,993,061.23 from FICSB on May 29,2015.
"I confirm that FICSB applied for a transfer of RM97,993,061.23 from its Maybank current account to a Maybank account belonging to Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd (GAP) on May 28,2015.
Khursiah also confirmed that a Maybank cheque in the name of FICSB for RM2,312,889.71 was paid to GAP account on Oct 29,2015.
Earlier, the fifth prosecution witness, former Felda director-general Datuk Hanapi Suhada, 62, had told the High Court that Mohd Isa ordered him to expedite a payment of RM100mil to FICSB for it to pay GAP for the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak.
FICSB bought MPHS for RM160mil in 2015.
Meanwhile, the seventh prosecution witness, Kuching Maybank branch assistant manager Yeo Haw Yong, 54, confirmed that GAP was its customer.
On Dec 14,2018, Mohd Isa pleaded not guilty to one count of breach of trust, and nine counts of receiving bribes amounting to more than RM3 million.
The offences were allegedly committed at Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC between April 29,2014, and Dec 11,2015.
The hearing continues on Monday.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/10/09/maybank-officer-confirms-rm100mil-transfer-from-felda-to-subsidiary#BO7Wyblt3qflwWjY.99
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