THE Court of Appeal has set March 7 next year to hear an appeal by former Felda chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad against his conviction and six-year imprisonment and fine for corruption in connection with the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak. 

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, when contacted, confirmed the hearing date. 

He said the court has set February 21 for another case management session and ordered both parties to complete their submissions by February 14. 

The appeal came up for case management today before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron. 

On February 3 last year, the High Court convicted Isa, 72, of nine corruption charges involving RM3 million in connection with Felda’s purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak. 

The offences were allegedly committed at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, between July 21, 2014, and December 11, 2015. 

High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now a Court of Appeal judge) sentenced Isa to six years in prison for each charge for a total of 54 years, and a fine of RM15.45 million, in default 18 years’ jail.

However, Isa only has to serve six years in jail as the court ordered the prison sentences to run concurrently. 

The court has increased the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar’s bail amount from RM800,000 to RM1.5 million and also ordered him to report to the nearest police station on the first day of every month pending disposal of the appeal. – Bernama, October 7, 2022.