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Former Felda chairman Isa Samad has failed in his final legal bid to overturn his conviction for receiving about RM3 million in kickbacks linked to the purchase of a hotel in Kuching more than a decade ago.
The Federal Court today dismissed his application to review its earlier decision and to order a rehearing of his appeal.
The ruling leaves the 76-year-old former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar with only one remaining avenue of relief – a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong – as the offences were committed in Kuala Lumpur.
A three-member bench chaired by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Azizah Nawawi held that there was no miscarriage of justice warranting the exercise of the court’s review jurisdiction.
Azizah said there were no exceptional circumstances to justify a review under Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules 1995.
She added that Isa had not been prevented from presenting any arguments in his defence or mitigation before the Federal Court appellate panel reserved its decision.
Also on the bench were Justices Collin Lawrence Sequerah and P Ravinthran.
Isa was convicted by the High Court in 2021 of nine corruption charges involving RM3.09 million. He was sentenced to six years in jail and fined RM15.5 million.
Two years ago, a Court of Appeal bench allowed Isa’s appeal, quashing the conviction and sentence.
However, the Federal Court restored both conviction and sentence on Feb 10, ordering that Isa begin his jail term immediately.
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