Latest news with #RM160mil
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Oct 29 fixed to hear appeal against Mohd Isa's acquittal
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has fixed Oct 29 to hear the prosecution's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision to acquit former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad of nine graft charges. The date was fixed by deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yussof during case management here yesterday. Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, when contacted, said that parties have been instructed to file their submissions by Oct 14, which is two weeks before the hearing date. Mohd Isa's lawyer Siti Sarah Khalil confirmed the matter. The prosecution filed the notice of appeal on March 7 last year and the petition of appeal on June 26, with 24 reasons why the Court of Appeal had erred in acquitting Mohd Isa. On March 6 last year, a three-judge Court of Appeal panel set aside Mohd Isa's conviction and six-year sentence, as well as the RM15.45mil fine imposed by the High Court on Feb 3, 2021. In 2018, Mohd Isa was accused of nine counts of receiving RM3,090,000 in bribes from Ikhwan Zaidel, a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through his former special political officer Muhammad Zahid Md Arip as an inducement for facilitating Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd's approval to purchase the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites for RM160mil. The offences were alleged to have taken place at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, between July 21, 2014 and Dec 11, 2015. He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Federal Court sets Oct 29 to hear appeal against Isa Samad's acquittal
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court has fixed Oct 29 for the hearing of the prosecution's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision to acquit former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad. Mohd Isa, 75, was acquitted of all nine corruption charges involving RM3mil in connection with the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak. Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said the hearing date was set by deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yussof during an online case management proceeding on Friday (July 25). "All parties are required to file their written submissions two weeks before the appeal hearing,' Afzainizam said when contacted. Meanwhile, Mohd Isa's counsel Siti Sarah Khalil said the court has directed parties to file their submissions on or before Oct 14, with the next case management fixed for Oct 15. The prosecution filed its notice of appeal on March 7, 2024, and petition of appeal on June 26, advancing 24 grounds to support its contention that the Court of Appeal erred in law and fact when it acquitted Mohd Isa of all charges. On March 6, 2024, a three-member Court of Appeal panel comprising Justice Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera (now a Federal Court judge), Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Datuk S.M. Komathy Suppiah set aside Mohd Isa's conviction and six-year sentence, as well as the RM15.45mil fine imposed by the High Court on Feb 3, 2021. The former Negeri Sembilan mentri besar was charged in 2018 with nine counts of receiving RM3,090,000 in bribes from Ikhwan Zaidel, a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through his former special political officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, as an inducement for facilitating Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd's approval to purchase the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites for RM160mil. The offences were alleged to have taken place at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015. He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. - Bernama
The Star
14-07-2025
- The Star
Steely stand against smuggling
Swift and efficient: A MACC elite Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad member rounding up a worker during a raid at a scrap metal processing and storage facility on Jalan Bukit Minyak, Seberang Perai, Penang. – ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star GEORGE TOWN: For over six years, a well-organised smuggling syndicate has exported scrap metal to several countries, evading nearly RM1bil in export duty. The group falsely declared the cargo as machinery and other non-taxable metal goods to bypass the government's 15% export duty, with destinations including China, India and others. To execute the scheme, the syndicate is alleged to have bribed Customs Department officers, establishing a corrupt network that operated undetected for years. This illicit collaboration is estimated to have caused RM160mil in direct tax losses annually, with total projected losses exceeding RM950mil over six years. Sources said the syndicate operated its own scrapyard with storage and processing facilities, enabling it to collect, sort and prepare large volumes of scrap metal for export in-house. This full operational control allowed the group to manipulate documentation, conceal the true nature of the cargo, and coordinate shipments with minimal external scrutiny. Luck ran out for the syndicate yesterday when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched a large-scale crackdown codenamed "Ops Metal", targeting 19 locations across Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah. In Penang, media outlets, including The Star, were on the ground from as early as 5am to witness a high-profile raid at a luxury residence in Batu Maung. Clad in tactical gear, officers from the MACC's elite Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS) searched the multi-storey property for evidence linked to the smuggling and corruption ring. The operation centred on a prominent scrap metal company owner with a "Datuk" title. However, the suspect – believed to be a foreign national – was not at home, having reportedly left the country two days earlier. Only several women, believed to be his wife, mother and domestic helper, were present. The team then moved to a scrap metal storage and processing facility on Jalan Bukit Minyak, Penang mainland, believed to belong to the suspect. Around 30 workers were detained for questioning and later released after a man, thought to be the facility's supervisor, assured full cooperation with the investigation. No arrests were made across all 19 locations, though investigations remain active and the total value of seized assets has yet to be disclosed. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the coordinated raids targeted manufacturers and companies suspected of large-scale tax evasion and bribery in scrap metal exports. The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Efforts are also ongoing to identify those involved, including public servants suspected of facilitating the illicit operations.
