KUALA LUMPUR:The High Court today sentenced a six-year prison sentence to RM15.45 million for former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad on nine charges of accepting bribes of RM3.09 million.

Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali when sentencing said the six-year prison sentence was for each charge to run concurrently. 

Apart from that, he imposed a fine of RM15,450,00.00, which was broken down into nine charges against the former Negeri Sembilan Minister.

Failure to pay the fine for each charge, added Mohd Nazlan, will result in an additional two years in prison.

“The court took note that the accused had a long record as a member of the government administration, as Menteri Besar for more than two decades, and as a Federal Minister.

"But the Court must emphasize that corruption is a very serious crime, undermining economic growth, denying the rights of the people, and it is like a cancer that weakens democracy and the dignity of the country," he added.

The former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar is accused of receiving money in stages as a reward for helping to approve the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak.

He is accused of receiving the money from the Zaidel Brotherhood, a member of the Board of Directors of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd (GAPSB), through his former special political officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.

All the offenses were allegedly committed at Level 49, Felda Tower, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, between 21 July 2014 and 11 Dec 2015.

Charges pursuant to Section 16 (a) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of bribes or RM10 , 000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Earlier, the defense led by Datuk Salehuddin Saidin during the mitigation process sought the consideration of the High Court to mitigate the type of punishment based on several factors.

Among the factors listed includes Mohd Isa's service to the people during his 40 years of political career, including when he was the Member of Parliament for Jempol while in the UMNO and Barisan Nasional parties.

Salehuddin said, apart from that, the Court also needs to look at the factor that the ‘nature of the crime’ of the white collar crime committed does not have a big impact on the society as a whole, because the amount mentioned is RM3 million.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz stressed that the crime of white collar is a very serious offense, because Mohd Isa had abused his position of trust (position of trust) when committing the offense.

Afzainizam said, throughout the trial, the defense team tried to create a narrative that Muhammad Zahid as the 21st Prosecution Witness tried to conspire to persecute Mohd Isa for a specific purpose.

The action, he added, showed that Mohd Isa had no feelings of guilt or remorse for his actions, instead he was just trying to find a way out by placing the blame on others.

Afzainizam said, Mohd Isa also did not attempt to return the money back to FICSB, as an effort to rectify the situation.

"If these two things are done, I agree that the Court can consider a lighter sentence on him," he added.

For that reason, Afzainizam said, the prosecution requested Judge Mohd Nazlan to impose a 12-year prison sentence for each charge effective today, as well as a fine of RM15.45 million to meet the criteria value of five bribes.

If he fails to pay the fine within the stipulated period, he said, the Court should consider an additional 10 years imprisonment.

However, Salehuddin said, if Mohd Isa shows remorse, that will mean that he has admits to such wrongdoing, and in turn will either contradict or result in conflict at the next level.

"That is what we should consider, in addition to Tan Sri Isa's contribution to the country. With that, Yang Arif, I beg to be considered fairly, "he added.