The Malaysian Insight

FORMER Felda chairman Mohd Isa Samad is to be charged today with one count of criminal breach of trust and nine counts of corruption in connection with a hotel purchase by Felda Investment Corporation, FIC. 

The 10 counts of receveing bribes involves RM3.09 million.

Isa, who had also been FIC director previously, has been questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission several times since last year and was arrested in August 2017 and remanded for five days.

The hotel purchased during his tenure at FIC was the Merdeka Palace in Kuching, which was bought at a highly inflated price.

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar and Umno strongman was Felda chairman from January 2011 until January 2017, when he stepped down amid news of the scandal and Felda’s debts.

Isa is represented by K. Kumaraendran, Ridha Abdah Subri and K. Lavinia while Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Afzainizam Abdul Aziz are the prosecutors.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live updates from the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

12.02pm: Isa leaves the premises after his son posts bail.

10am: Isa’s son, Mohamad Najib, will settle the bail.

9.40am: Judge Azura sets bail at RM800,000 in one surety.

She also asks Isa to surrender his passport until the trial is over.

Judge sets case mention on January 25, 2019.

9.27am: DPP Umar Saifuddin Jaafar asks judge Azura to set RM2 million as bail.

Isa’s lawyer, K. Kumaraendran, argues that there is no possibility of his client absconding.

Investigations started a year ago and there is no travel ban on him.

On the four occasions he left the country, Isa informed MACC. Kumaraendran said the question of flight risk was unlikely.

He said the amount proposed by the DPP is excessive and it is difficult to raise the sum as his client was only informed at the last minute of the charges.

Kumaraendran says he will leave it to the discretion of the court.

9.17am: Prosecutor reads out the charges against Isa. He pleads not guilty and claims trial for all charges.

The 10 charges cover one count of criminal breach of trust for purchasing the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Kuching for RM160 million by FIC without approval from the Felda board of directors.

The nine counts of corruption are for receiving bribes totalling RM3.09 million to facilitate the approval of the hotel’s purchase by FIC.

The charge sheets state that Isa received the bribes on nine occasions between July 2014 and December 2015 from one Ikhwan Zaidel, a board member of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd.

The cash was received through one Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.

9.14am: Judge Azura Alwi enters the courtroom.

9.12am: Isa enters the dock.

8.50am: Isa Samad arrives at the court house dressed in a light blue batik shirt. He is not handcuffed. – December 14, 2018.