KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court has ordered two former senior officers of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to enter their defence for criminal breach of trust involving RM47.6 million four years ago.
Judge Allaudeen Ismail made the decision against former Felda general manager Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, 58, and his ex-deputy Muhammad Sufi Mahbub, 54, after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against them.
He also fixed five days from March 23 to hear their defence.
Muhammad Sufi was charged with dishonestly giving approval for payment of RM25.999 million and RM21.625 million, respectively, without approval of the Felda board of directors or the Felda Tender Committee.
He allegedly committed the offences at Wisma Felda, Jalan Perumahan Gurney, between Jan 13, 2014 and July 23, 2014.
He had allegedly approved the payments to I2C Hassed Co Ltd and I2C Hassed (M) Sdn Bhd, via Felda Caviartive Sdn Bhd.
He was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment, whipping and fine if found guilty.
Meanwhile, Faizoull was alleged to have abetted Sufi at the same time and place, and was charged under Section 109 of the code, read together with Section 409 of the same code. He faces the same sentence if found guilty.