The Federal Court has reinstated the conviction and sentence of former Felda chairman Isa Samad for receiving approximately RM3 million in kickbacks related to the purchase of a hotel in Kuching over a decade ago.
Justice Nordin Hassan, who led a three-member bench, ruled that the Court of Appeal had made an appealable error, justifying the apex court’s intervention. The prosecution’s appeal to overturn Isa’s acquittal was consequently allowed.
The bench also comprised Justices Lee Swee Seng and Ruzima Ghazali.
Isa was originally found guilty by the High Court in 2021 on nine counts of corruption involving RM3.09 million, and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment along with a RM15.4 million fine.
However, in 2023, a Court of Appeal bench led by Justice Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera (now a Federal Court judge) had unanimously quashed the conviction and sentence, paving the way for the current appeal by the prosecution.
With the Federal Court’s decision, Isa’s guilt and penalties have been reinstated, marking a significant development in the long-running corruption case.
