KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — A former director-general (DG) of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) was charged at the Sessions Court here today with deceiving the authority’s board of directors in connection with a power of attorney used to transfer the ownership of 16 parcels of its land at Jalan Semarak in 2014.

Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, 66, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

Faizoull, in his capacity as Felda DG, is accused of deceiving the board by concealing a power of attorney dated June 3, 2014, granted Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd authority to transfer ownership of the 16 parcels of land involved in the proposed Felda Lot Development Project at Jalan Semarak.

The act induced the board of directors to agree to the power of attorney, resulting in the transfer of ownership of the said Felda land to Synergy Promenade KLVC Sdn Bhd and Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd, when the Board would not have done so had it not been deceived.

The offence is alleged to have been committed at the Board Meeting Room, Level 50, Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC here on Sept 2, 2014.

He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of between one and 10 years and caning, as well as a fine, upon conviction. 

Deputy public prosecutor N. Joy Jothi offered bail of RM100,000 with one surety, considering the seriousness of the offence.

“We also request additional conditions that the accused’s passport be surrendered to the court and that he report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once a month until the case is concluded,” she said.

Faizoull’s lawyer Datuk Sukri Mohamed sought a lower bail of around RM30,000 on the grounds that his client is the main breadwinner and has four children still in school.

“Previously, his passport was impounded for four years, from December 2018 to September 2022, in relation to two other charges. Throughout this period there was no evidence to show that he attempted to flee or failed to cooperate,” he said, adding that his client had been remanded for five days beginning Sept 6.

Judge Suzana allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM70,000 with one surety, subject to the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.

The court then fixed Nov 6 for the next mention of the case.

The MACC has opened six new investigation papers into allegations of embezzlement, abuse of power and corruption involving Felda and its subsidiary, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC).

The probe into the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project forms part of seven investigation papers, including one older probe.

The investigations focus on the acquisition and investment of assets by Felda and FIC between 2010 and 2020, which are suspected to contain elements of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power.

Yesterday, former FIC chief executive officer Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to two charges of deceiving the FIC board of directors in connection with the appointment of a company for a proposed commercial development project and the market value of 24 parcels of Felda land, 12 years ago. — Bernama