THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected the prosecution’s application to delay the corruption trial of former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

The trial will proceed on October 7.

The prosecution applied for the case to be postponed on the grounds that prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram was tied-up in the ongoing Najib Razak trial.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali dismissed the application, saying the Attorney-General’s Chambers has other deputy public prosecutors who can fill Sri Ram’s role in the Isa Samad trial.

 “While the court does not want to question his appointment, it is known that Datuk Gopal Sri Ram is occupied (in the Najib trial), which will continue until at least November,” Nazlan said.

Sri Ram was at court this morning.

“In my view, any delay of the start of this trial will be truly unnecessary and unjustified,” said the judge.

The court fixed October 7 to 9 and 14 to 25 as trial dates.

Isa was first charged in the sessions court in December last year, and later re-charged in the high court in April, Nazlan noted. By May the prosecution has delivered pre-trial evidentiary documents.  

Isa faces one count of criminal breach of trust and nine corruption charges for receiving a RM3 million bribe in connection to the purchase of a Kuching hotel on April 29, 2014.

The acquisition of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites for RM160 million was made by Felda Investment Corp Sdn Bhd without the approval of the Felda board of directors.

Isa was the Felda chairman at the time.

He was seated in the dock this morning, dressed in a grey suit. – September 23, 2019.