Former Felda chairman files legal challenge against Federal Court’s decision to reinstate his six-year jail term and RM15.45 million fine.

PUTRAJAYA: Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has filed an application to review the Federal Court’s decision that reinstated his corruption conviction.

His lawyer, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, confirmed the notice of motion was filed on March 4 through the law firm Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.

The application was filed under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995. Abu Bakar stated the review was filed on Mohd Isa’s instruction.

READ MORE: Federal court reinstates Isa Samad’s corruption conviction and sentence

The 76-year-old is currently serving a six-year prison sentence. The Federal Court on Feb 10 restored his conviction, jail term, and RM15.45 million fine, with an additional two years’ imprisonment in default of payment.

A three-member bench led by Justice Datuk Nordin Hassan allowed the prosecution’s appeal. This overturned a Court of Appeal decision from 2024 that had acquitted him.

The bench restored the High Court’s Feb 3, 2021 decision. Mohd Isa was accused of receiving RM3.09 million in bribes related to a hotel purchase.

The bribes were allegedly received via his former special officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip. They were linked to Felda’s RM160 million purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching.

In its unanimous decision, Justice Nordin held the High Court correctly found Mohd Isa received the gratification. This triggered a legal presumption under anti-corruption laws.

Justice Nordin noted that while conveying ‘salam’ through an intermediary is a Muslim custom, it expressed a ‘different connotation’ in this case. He said the communication, together with the ‘salam’, supported evidence of solicitation.

 The Sun Malaysia