Isa Samad sentenced to 6 years’ jail, RM15 million fine

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today sentenced former Felda chairman Isa Samad to a total of 54 years in prison and a fine of RM15.45 million in default of 18 years’ jail after finding him guilty of nine counts of corruption involving RM3 million over the agency’s purchase of a hotel in Kuching.

Isa, the former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for each count. However, he will only serve six years as judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ordered that the sentences be served concurrently.

When handing down the sentence, Nazlan said it was a lesson for Isa and to deter others from committing a similar offence.

“The court took note of the accused’s background and administrative record, as well as his involvement in the country’s politics where the accused had served as a menteri besar for two decades and also as a cabinet minister.

“Corruption-related offences are serious and threaten the country’s economy and are a cancer that affects the country’s democratic system.

“Therefore, the court sentenced the accused to six years imprisonment on each charge, to be served concurrently.

“The court also imposed a fine of five times the amount of bribe for each charge which amounted to RM15.45 million and, if he fails to pay the fine, he will be jailed two years for each charge,” Nazlan said.

He allowed Isa’s application for a stay of the jail sentence and fine pending the disposal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal, saying the court was satisfied that Isa had established special circumstances for the stay application to be allowed.

However, he increased the bail amount from RM800,000 to RM1.5 million, of which RM700,000 must be paid by 2pm tomorrow.

Isa was also told to report himself to the nearest police station on the first day of every month until the disposal of his appeal.