PUTRAJAYA: Newly freed from corruption charges today, former Umno vice-president Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad hinted that he might make a political comeback after being inactive for years.
He said he would not mind if the situation permitted and if his service was needed.
"Politics is subjective. But what is for sure, I am a loyal supporter of Umno and I have never changed that stance," he said.
Isa said he was confident from the start of the court process, which had taken six years, would prove his innocence on the nine corruption charges.
He said he had no problems being questioned in court over the nine charges amounting to RM3 million in the Felda acquisition of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching.
"I left it to the court to decide my fate and I would accept any decision.
"I thank the court for today's decision. I am thankful and glad that my family and I can now go back to our normal lives.
"But this case is not over yet. There may be an appeal," said Isa after the Court of Appeal (CoA) today acquitted and discharged him of the charges.
Isa was represented by counsel Datuk Salehuddin Saidin.
Meanwhile, Isa's wife, Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid said they had always known that he was not guilty of the alleged offences.
"He knows he did not commit any wrongdoing and we are glad many people also rallied behind him.
"This is a victory for our family. We have also prayed for things to be in his favour.
"He may return to politics. He was waiting for his name to be cleared from these allegations first," she said.
Earlier, CoA's three-man bench, led by Justice Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, had unanimously set aside the 2021 High Court's conviction against Isa.
The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar had sought the CoA to set aside a 2021 sentence after he was found guilty of nine bribery charges amounting to RM3 million in the Felda acquisition of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching.
On Feb 3,2021, Isa was sentenced to six years' jail and fined RM15.4 million, in default 18 years jail after he was found guilty of receiving the bribes.
The then High Court judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now CoA judge) 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.
Other members of the bench were Justices Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Datuk S.M Komathy Suppiah.