KUALA LUMPUR: Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was sentenced to six years jail and fined RM15.4 million today after he was found guilty of receiving bribes of more than RM3 million over the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak, seven years ago.
High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali convicted Mohd Isa of all nine charges he faced, ruling that the defence had failed to raise any doubt in the prosecution's case against him.
Mohd Isa was accompanied by his wife, Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid and their son who were sitting at the public gallery when the verdict was delivered.
In handing down the sentence, Mohd Nazlan highlighted the seriousness of corruption-related offences which is threatening the country's economy and the democratic system.
The court also took note of the accused's background, administrative record as well as his involvement in politics in which the accused had served as Menteri Besar for two decades and also as a cabinet minister.
"The court's objective is not to punish those who have been found guilty but for them to rehabilitate. It is also to serve as a deterent to prevent the accused or any other people from committing similar offences.
"Corruption is a cancer to the society that threatens the economy and the country's democratic system," the judge said.
He then ordered Mohd Isa to serve six years jail for each of the nine counts.
Mohd Nazlan also imposed a RM15.4 million fine on Mohd Isa for all the charges.
However, Mohd Nazlan ordered that all the jail sentences run concurrently. This means Mohd Isa will only serve a total of six years' jail.
Mohd Isa would also have to serve an additional 18 years in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
Mohd Nazlan later granted Mohd Isa a stay of execution of his jail term and fine pending his appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The judge, however, ordered Mohd Isa's bail to be increased from RM800,000 to RM1.5 million.
Mohd Nazlan also imposed an additional condition on Mohd Isa which was for him to report to the police station on the first day of each month until the disposal of the appeal.
"The accused will have make the payment of bail by 2pm tomorrow," he said.
Earlier, Mohd Nazlan in convicting Mohd Isa said the latter's defence was an afterthought, inconsistent and baseless.
He said the accused had failed to rebut his charges under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 that he had corruptly received the money.
"The defence had failed to rebut on the balance of probability that the money was corruptly received as a reward to approve the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (a Felda subsidiary).
"The court therefore finds the accused guilty of a nine charges," Mohd Nazlan said.
A total of 22 prosecution witnesses and six defence witnesses which included Mohd Isa testified in the trial which started on Oct 8,2019.
On June 16, last year, Mohd Isa was ordered to enter his defence against the nine corruption charges after the court was satisfied that there were credible and sufficient evidence against him to prove the essential elements of the offence of accepting gratification.