Ex-aide implicated me after being harassed by ghost in MACC lockup - Isa

Former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that his former political special officer had implicated him over corruption charges totalling RM3 million, to escape from being charged himself.

Isa said Muhammad Zahid Md Arip had told him at the time that he was under duress after being harassed by a "ghost" in the MACC lockup and was forced to act in that manner.

“I met him (Zahid) when his uncle died in 2018, I greeted him and commented that he looked thin. He said while he was under remand, there were all sorts of things (that happened).

"He was detained at the old MACC building and said that one of the cells was haunted. Due to fear and being under duress, he had to implicate me to set himself free," Isa said during the examination-in-chief by his counsel Salehuddin Saidin on the first day of the defence trial against nine corruption charges.

The former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar said he had asked Zahid to correct the statements which linked him to the charges, however, it never materialised.

"I asked him (Zahid) to correct it (the statement), he said he would do it but nothing happened until I met him at the MACC office, and I said again 'Zahid, correct it before it goes to court because this is a matter concerning my dignity'. 

"He said 'wait, I will do it' but nothing happened until I was brought to court," he added.

Isa said he had asked Zahid, who is also the 16th prosecution witness, to correct the statement as he was not involved in the corruption case.

Meanwhile, Isa said Zahid (photo) had served as his special political officer from 2011 to 2016, and the appointment was made at the request of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I gave him (Zahid) the post (of special political officer) even though I was not interested, because his track record is not good, he likes to jump (sides in politics).

"His temperament is like that, he has to get himself scot-free. That's why in politics, he jumps around, wherever there is profit, he will go. That is his personality, his style," Isa added. 

According to Isa, he fired Zahid as his special political officer because the latter supported Pakatan Harapan.

Asked by Salehuddin on whether Zahid had on nine occasions placed bribe money on the table of his (Isa) office at the 49th floor of the Felda building, Isa replied: "That never happened, and it is impossible to happen."

Isa said the room was locked using a special code which only the auxiliary police officers and his former secretary Zuraida Ariffin @ Shaari knew of.

"I also did not remember my room code, in the event I went to the office, Zuraida would first open it and get the room ready. During my absence, no one was allowed to enter my room, and other than the time (I was present), my office will remain closed.

“I was also not in the office all the time, as I had a lot of affairs to attend to outside. Zuraida would also be in the office if I went there, as she would be managing my requirements and schedule at the office," he added.

Isa was charged with nine counts of corruption, namely receiving bribes for himself amounting to RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan Zaidel, 59, through Zahid, as a token of gratitude to help approve the purchase of a hotel by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB) for RM160 million.

All the offences were allegedly committed at the 49th Floor of Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC in Kuala Lumpur between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015.

Each charge filed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The prosecution in the trial was handled by DPP Afzainizam Abdul Aziz before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

- Bernama