Prosecution closes Mohd Isa’s case, submission on March 23

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Okt -- Bekas Pengerusi Felda, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad hadir di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bagi perbicaraan kes pecah amanah dan rasuah RM3 juta berhubung pembelian Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) di Kuching, Sarawak. Mohd Isa, 70, menghadapi satu pertuduhan pecah amanah dan sembilan pertuduhan menerima rasuah berjumlah lebih RM3 juta yang didakwa dilakukan di Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC antara 29 April 2014 dan 11 Dis 2015. --fotoBERNAMA (2019) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

by BERNAMA/ pic by BERNAMA

THE prosecution in the corruption case involving former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad (picture) closed its case yesterday after a 15-day trial during which 15 witnesses were called to testify.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz informed the Kuala Lumpur (KL) High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali that the prosecution was closing its case after the last prosecution witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer Mohamad Safari Abdullah, 37, completed his testimony.

The KL High Court was also told that investigations by the MACC found only Mohd Isa received RM3 million in bribe from former Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd board member Ikhwan Zaidel.

MACC investigating officer Mohamad Safari said Mohd Isa’s former special officer Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, 53, former Felda Investment Corp Sdn Bhd (FIC) CEO Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil, 49, and Ikhwan, 60, were not charged as they did not receive the bribe “I do not have to suggest the three names to be charged as there is no conspiracy among them, and investigation found that the money was only received by the accused (Mohd Isa),” he said during re-examination by Afzainizam.

Mohamad Safari said this when questioned the reason he did not recommend for the three of them (referring to Muhammad Zahid, Mohd Zaid and Ikhwan) to be charged as there was sufficient evidence to prosecuted them.

Meanwhile, Afzainizam told the court that the prosecution is offering six witnesses to the defence if the accused is called to enter his defence.

The witnesses are former board members of FIC namely Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, Datuk Dr Omar Salim, Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, Datuk Nik Azman Mohd Zain, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Mohd Isa’s secretary, Zuraida Ariffin.

Following which, Mohd Nazlan fixed March 23 for both parties to file their submissions and Feb 28 for them to file the written submissions.

The prosecution closed its case today after 22 witnesses testified.

Mohd Isa, 71, is charged with one count of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and nine counts of receiving bribes of more than RM3 million in connection with the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites in Kuching, Sarawak, by FIC.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Felda Tower, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC in KL, between April 29, 2014, and Dec 15, 2015.