Former FELDA Director-General Charged with Deceiving Board Over Transfer of Jalan Semarak Land Titles
KUALA LUMPUR: A former Director-General of the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) was charged in the Sessions Court here today with deceiving the FELDA Board of Directors over a power of attorney involving the transfer of ownership of 16 plots of land belonging to the agency in Jalan Semarak in 2014.
Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, 66, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Suzana Hussin.
Faizoull, in his capacity as FELDA Director-General, was accused of deceiving the Board of Directors by concealing the fact that a power of attorney dated June 3, 2014, authorised Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd to transfer the ownership of 16 plots of FELDA land involved in the proposed FELDA Lot Development Project in Jalan Semarak.
The act allegedly induced the FELDA Board of Directors to approve the power of attorney, resulting in the ownership of FELDA’s land being transferred to Synergy Promenade KLVC Sdn Bhd and Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd. The Board would not have given its approval had it not been deceived.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Board Meeting Room on Level 50 of Menara FELDA, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC, here, on Sept 2, 2014.
He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of not less than one year and not more than 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor N. Joy Jothi proposed bail of RM100,000 with one surety, taking into account the seriousness of the alleged offence.
“We also request additional conditions that the accused surrender his passport to the court and report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once a month until the case is concluded,” she said.
Lawyer Datuk Sukri Mohamed, representing the accused, sought a lower bail of about RM30,000 on the grounds that his client was the family’s main breadwinner and had four children who were still studying.
“Previously, the accused’s passport was impounded for four years, from December 2018 until September 2022, in connection with two other charges. Throughout that period, there was no evidence that he attempted to abscond or failed to cooperate,” he said, adding that his client had been remanded for five days from Sept 6.
Judge Suzana allowed bail of RM70,000 with one surety, with the additional conditions that Faizoull surrender his passport to the court and report to the MACC office once a month until the case is concluded.
The court fixed Nov 6 for further mention of the case.
The MACC has opened six new investigation papers into allegations of misappropriation, abuse of power and corruption involving FELDA and its subsidiary, FELDA Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC).
The investigation into the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project is among seven investigation papers involving FELDA and FIC, including one earlier investigation.
The investigations focus on asset purchases and investments by FELDA and FIC between 2010 and 2020 that are suspected of involving elements of corruption, misappropriation and abuse of power.
Yesterday, former FELDA Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to two charges of deceiving the FIC Board of Directors over the appointment of a company for a proposed commercial development project and the market valuation of 24 plots of FELDA-owned land 12 years ago.
BERNAMA