KUALA LUMPUR: Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad (pic) has claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to a charge of criminal breach of trust and nine counts of receiving graft involving more than RM3mil.
Mohd Isa pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him before Judge Azura Alwi here Friday (Dec 14).
According to the first charge, the former Umno vice-president allegedly committed CBT by approving the purchase of Merdeka Palace & Suites Hotel without the approval from the Felda board of directors on April 29, 2014.
The offence under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a possible fine upon conviction.
Mohd Isa was also charged with receiving bribes of RM100,000; RM140,000; RM300,000; RM250,000; RM500,000; RM500,000; RM300,000; 500,000; and RM500,000 totalling RM3.09mil from Gagasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd director Ikhwan Zaidel between July 2014 and December 2015.
He allegedly committed the offences at level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC near here.
The charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe for each charge, if found guilty.
DPP Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar offered bail at RM2mil in one surety.
Lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran, who is representing the Isa, asked for a lower bail of RM500,000.
Azura fixed bail at RM800,000 in one surety.
The case is set for mention on Jan 25.
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