Isa Samad's appeal decision postponed to another date
October 16, 2023
The decision on the appeal of former Felda Chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad regarding the corruption case he faced was postponed to another date
The decision of Isa Samad's appeal was postponed to another date
The decision on the appeal of former Felda Chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad regarding the corruption case he faced was postponed to another date. - File photo/Astro AWANI
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision on the appeal of former Felda Chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad regarding the conviction and sentence of six years in prison and a fine of RM15.45 million for nine offenses related to the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak has been postponed to another date.
The postponement was made by the Putrajaya Court of Appeal after a panel of three judges led by Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera heard the arguments of the parties in the appeal on Monday.
The lawyer representing Mohd Isa, Datuk Salehuddin Saidin argued that the High Court erred when his client was convicted of corruption for reaching contradictory findings.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Afzainizam Abdul Aziz asked the court to consider the prosecution evidence that the appellant was involved in the board of directors meeting that approved the purchase of the hotel, as well as RM3 million received by the appellant as a fee for approving the purchase.
On 3 February 2022, Mohd Isa, 74, was convicted on nine charges of corruption of RM3 million related to the purchase of a hotel in Kuching.
He is alleged to have received the bribe from a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, Ikhwan Zaidel through his political officer Muhammad Zahid as a sign of gratitude for helping to approve the purchase of a hotel at a price of RM160 million.
He is alleged to have committed the offense on Floor 49, Menara Felda in the capital between July 21, 2014 and December 11, 2015.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced him to six years in prison and a fine of RM15.45 million or 18 years in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
He was charged in accordance with Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and can be punished in accordance with Section 24(1) of the same act which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher.
