PUTRAJAYA: The appeal hearing in the criminal case of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has been postponed to Oct 16 after the former Felda chairman was warded in a Seremban hospital for heart problems.
A three-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, chaired by Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail, was informed of Mohd Isa's condition by his lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin here on Monday (June 26).
ALSO READ: High Court finds Isa Samad guilty of nine graft charges
He said Isa was admitted to hospital on Sunday (June 25) night and the defence received a medical report from the hospital on Monday morning.
He said his client's wife, who is the bailor, was also absent during the proceedings as she had taken an injection for her knee on Sunday and was unable to walk.
"We were only just informed of the matter and we apologise for the inconvenience," Salehuddin told the court.
ALSO READ: Isa Samad files appeal against graft conviction, posts bail
Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz did not object to an adjournment.
Justice Hadhariah allowed for an adjournment and fixed the new date for hearing.
"We can't do anything if the appellant is facing medical issues.
"Hopefully Tan Sri (Mohd Isa) will be healthy on that day," she said.
Other judges on the bench were Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Azmi Ariffin.
Mohd Isa, 74, is appealing against his conviction and six-year imprisonment and fine for corruption in connection with the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak.
On Feb 3, 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted Mohd Isa on nine corruption charges involving RM3mil in connection with Felda's purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching.
The offences were allegedly committed at Level 49, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur between July 21, 2014 and Dec 11, 2015.
High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now a Court of Appeal judge) sentenced Mohd Isa to six years in prison for each charge for a total of 54 years and a fine of RM15.45mil, in default 18 years' jail.
However, Mohd Isa only had to serve six years in jail as the court ordered the prison sentences to run concurrently.
The court had increased the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar's bail amount from RM800,000 to RM1.5mil and also ordered him to report to the nearest police station on the first day of every month pending disposal of the appeal.
