‘Salam meant he wanted money’

Day in court: Isa (centre) at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for his CBT and graft trial. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad’s salam (greeting) was a sign that he wanted money – allegedly as kickback for assisting Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd (GAPS) to sell a hotel in Kuching to Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) at an inflated price, the High Court heard.

Former member of GAPS’ board of directors, Ikhwan Zaidel, 59, told the court yesterday that the greeting was always conveyed to him by Isa’s former special officer Zahid Md Arip.

Ikhwan, the 16th prosecution witness for Isa’s criminal breach of trust (CBT) and RM3mil graft trial for FIC’s purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites in 2014, had told the court that Zahid had informed him that Isa had wanted money for “political purposes”.

Reading from his witness statement, he said that he would meet Zahid from time to time whenever he was in Kuala Lumpur for business.

“Zahid does contact me from time to time to deliver ‘salam’ from Isa.

“I understood the meaning of the ‘salam’ and I gave in (akur) to the request, ” he said, adding that from his understanding, the greeting meant that Zahid wanted money to be delivered to Isa.

Nine payments were made through Zahid between July 2014 and December 2014, he said.

“Sometime in the middle of July 2014, I met Zahid at the Cigar Room in Hilton PJ.

“I gave him RM100,000 in a paper bag to be given to Isa, ” he said, adding that he informed Zahid that the amount was to be deducted from the RM3mil promised to Isa.

He said that the other eight payments were made in July 2014 (RM140,000); October 2014 (RM300,000); November 2014 (RM250,000); June 2015 (RM500,000); July 2015 (RM500,000); August 2015 (RM300,000); September 2015 (RM500,000); and December 2015 (RM500,000) – bringing the amount to RM3.09mil in total.

He said at all of their meetings, Zahid came alone.

“I believe that all the money I gave to Zahid was meant for Isa.

“After all the money was given, there was no more request from Zahid for money on Isa’s behalf, ” he added.

The court also heard that every time Zahid contacted him with Isa’s greeting, he contacted JV Evolution Sdn Bhd owner Azizi Abdul Wahab for the cash.

Later, during cross-examination by counsel Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, who is representing Isa – who was also FIC director at that time, Ikhwan denied that he and three others – Zahid, Azizi and FIC chief executive officer Zaid Abdul Jalil – had plotted to share the profit from selling the hotel between them.

Salehuddin suggested to Ikhwan that the price of the hotel was set at RM165mil at first, so that the four could pocket RM15mil – a suggestion that the witness disagreed with.

(The court had heard before that GAPS board of directors had agreed to sell the hotel at RM150mil and if it was sold for more, the extra would be given to JV Evolution as commission.)

Salehuddin: When you offer (to sell the hotel at) RM165mil you know there will be RM15mil profit for Azizi?

Ikhwan: Not necessarily.

Salehuddin: You, Zaid, Zahid and Azizi then agreed to lower the selling price (to RM160mil) as then you would still have RM10mil to play around with?

Ikhwan: I disagree.

Ikhwan also disagreed with the defence counsel’s suggestion that it was Zahid who asked for the payments instead of Isa.

Salehuddin: When Zahid said that Isa wanted the money for political funds you could have verified with Isa?

Ikhwan: Yes.

Salehuddin: I put it to you that you knew that it was Zahid who wanted the money?

Ikhwan: I disagree.

Salehuddin: I put it to you that if Isa wanted the money (for himself) he would have asked for it personally from the start?

Ikhwan: I disagree.

Salehuddin: I put it to you that you used Isa’s name even though he never asked (for the donation)?

Ikhwan: I disagree.

Salehuddin: I put it to you that this is a plot between you, Zahid, Zaid and to some extent, Azizi?

Ikhwan: I disagree.

On Dec 14 last year, Isa, 70, claimed trial to one count of CBT by approving FIC’s purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites without the approval of Felda’s board of directors on April 29,2014.

The offence under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a possible fine upon conviction.

Isa was also charged with nine counts of dishonestly receiving gratification totalling RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan for helping to approve the hotel’s purchase by FIC at an allegedly inflated price of RM160mil.

The charges were made under Section 16a(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides a jail term of not exceeding 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz leads the prosecution.

The trial continues before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on Nov 26.- Star