KUALA LUMPUR: Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and nine counts of receiving graft involving more than RM3 million.
Isa who arrived at about 8.30am was calm, and nodded in understanding when the 10 charges were read to him before Judge Azura Alwi at the Sessions Court today.
For the first charge, former Umno vice-president allegedly committed CBT by approving the purchase of Merdeka Palace & Suites Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak, without the approval from Felda board of directors on April 29, 2014.
The offence falls under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a possible fine upon conviction.
For the second to tenth charges, Isa was charged with receiving grafts of RM100,000; RM140,000; RM300,000; RM250,000; RM500,000; RM500,000; RM300,000; 500,000; and RM500,000 (total RM3,090,000) from Gagasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd director Ikhwan Zaidel between July 2014 and December 2015.
He was allegedly committed all the offences at level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC.
He was charged under Section 16(a)A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act which 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.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar asked the court to impose RM2 million bail against the accused.
However, counsel K. Kumaraendran who represented Isa pleaded for minimum bail of RM500,000.
The court set bail RM800,000 in one surety and the accused has to surrender his passport to the MACC.
The court also fixed Jan 25 for mention.