FORMER Felda chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust and nine counts of receiving bribes totalling RM3.09 million relating to a hotel purchase by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC).

The charges, read out at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today, also brought into the limelight Zahid Md Arip, the political secretary to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Zahid, Isa’s former special officer at Felda, is named in the charge sheets as the intermediary between Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, which allegedly paid the bribes, and Isa.

Isa, who was also FIC chairman, allegedly received the RM3.09 million on nine occasions between July 2014 and December 2015 from Ikhwan Zaidel, a Gegasan Abadi Properties board member.

The money was given through Zahid, said the charge sheets.

Zahid, a Bersatu member, was appointed as political secretary to Dr Mahathir on May 30.

Over the years, his allegiance had flitted between Umno and PKR. He joined the Reformasi movement in 1998, and then, PKR, but later turned against the party’s then de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, through Kelab Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim.

In the 14th general election, Zahid ran on a PKR ticket against former prime minister Najib Razak in Pekan. He came in third in the four-cornered fight, which saw Najib retaining the parliamentary seat.

Zahid, who is the grandson of the late former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, was investigated together with Isa over FIC’s hotel purchase, and was arrested and remanded for eight days in August last year.

Isa was today granted bail at RM800,000 with one surety. The sum was paid by his son, Mohamad Najib.

He was also ordered to surrender his passport until the trial is completed.

Judge Azura Alwi fixed case mention for January 25 next year. – December 14, 2018.