Isa files review to set aside corruption conviction

 Among the grounds for the former Felda chairman's review is an alleged breach of natural justice.

The Federal Court had upheld the conviction and sentence of former Felda chairman Isa Samad for accepting nearly RM3 million in kickbacks related to the purchase of a Kuching hotel. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Former Felda chairman Isa Samad, convicted last month by the Federal Court for receiving about RM3 million in kickbacks related to the purchase of a hotel in Kuching 12 years ago, has filed an application to set aside the verdict.

In the application, filed on Wednesday by legal firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, Isa also sought a new bench to rehear his appeal.

Among the grounds for the review is that there was a breach of natural justice.

Lawyer Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, part of Isa’s legal team, confirmed that the application was filed on his client’s instruction.

Isa, 76, began his jail term at the Sungai Buloh prison after a three-member bench, chaired by Justice Nordin Hassan on Feb 10, restored the six-year jail term and RM15.5 million fine imposed by the High Court in 2021. Isa was found guilty of nine corruption charges involving RM3.09 million.

Two years ago, a Court of Appeal bench, led by Justice Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, had unanimously allowed Isa’s appeal, quashing the conviction and sentence. - FMT