Khir jailed one year for abuse of power but PKR expects him to walk free after GE

Former Selangor Mentri Besar Khir Toyo was found guilty of abusing his influence and buying a luxury home and land at a discount of up to RM3 million. He was sentenced to 12 months jail, but a stay of execution has been granted pending an appeal, which he has to do so within 14 days.

However, opposition leaders were unimpressed, pointing to complex internal politics within Umno that gave leeway for Khir to win his appeal after the general election, widely expected within the next few months.

"This is only a gesture. I don't think he will do any jail time at all. He will get a stay of execution pending an appeal of the sentence. Right after the general election, Khir Toyo will be a free man again. This is just cosmetics," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

High Court judge Mohtarudin Bakihere had ruled that the RM3.5 million Khir paid for the property was “inadequate consideration.”

“The defence failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case,” the judge said on Thursday. He also ordered a seizure of the property.

Khir was charged with illegally obtaining for himself and his wife two lots of land and a house at No. 8 and 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L here from Ditamas Sdn Bhd through its director Shamsuddin Hayroni.

The property was purchased at RM3.5 million although Ditamas had bought it tfor RM6.5 million on December 23, 2004.

A former dentist, Khir is the state assemblyman for Sungai Panjang. He was alleged to have committed the offence at the official residence of the Selangor mentri besar at Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7 here on May 29, 2007.

In his ruling, judge Mohtarudin said he agreed with deputy public prosecutor Masri Daud, who had argued that conviction under Section 165 of the Penal Code also invoked Section 36 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which mandates that the court seizes property that is the subject of a graft offense.

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