Isa Samad arrives at High Court for decision in graft case

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad (pic) has arrived at the High Court here for the decision in his corruption case involving RM3mil over the purchase of a hotel in Kuching, Sarawak.

The 71-year-old will know his fate on nine corruption charges as High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali will deliver the decision at the end of the defence's case this morning.

The hearing of the case began on Oct 8,2019, with the prosecution calling 22 witnesses to testify, including former Felda director-general Datuk Hanapi Suhada.

Isa was charged with nine counts of dishonestly receiving gratification for himself, in cash totalling RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan, who is a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through one Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, as gratification for helping to approve the purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) by FIC for RM160mil.

All the offences were allegedly committed at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC near here between July 21,2014, and Dec 11,2015.

All the charges were framed under Section 16a(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides for a jail term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount, RM10,000 or whichever is higher upon conviction.