Ex-Felda chief claims trial over Jalan Semarak land transfer charge

Former Felda director-general Datuk Faizoull Ahmad claimed trial on Sept 30 to a cheating charge linked to a power of attorney that allegedly transferred 16 parcels of Felda land at Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. The court granted bail of RM70,000 and set case management for Nov 6.

PETALING JAYA (Sept 30): Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) director-general Datuk Faizoull Ahmad has claimed trial to a cheating charge involving a power of attorney linked to the transfer of 16 parcels of Felda land at Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

Faizoull, 66, pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Wednesday (Sept 30) before judge Suzana Hussin. According to Bernama, the charge alleges that Faizoull concealed from Felda’s board that a power of attorney dated June 3, 2014, authorised Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd to transfer ownership of the parcels involved in the proposed Felda Lot Development Project at Jalan Semarak.

The alleged concealment induced the board to agree to the power of attorney, which the prosecution said resulted in ownership of the land being transferred to Synergy Promenade KLVC Sdn Bhd and Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd. The charge states that the board would not have agreed had it not been deceived. The offence allegedly occurred at the board meeting room on Level 50 of Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC, on Sept 2, 2014.

Faizoull was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction. The Edge Malaysia reported that whipping would not apply to him because of his age. The court set bail at RM70,000 with one surety, ordered Faizoull to surrender his passport and report to the nearest Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once a month, and fixed Nov 6 for case management.

Deputy public prosecutor N Joy Jothi had proposed RM100,000 bail and the surrender of his passport. Defence counsel Datuk Sukri Mohamed sought a lower sum, saying Faizoull had cooperated with investigators since 2018 and had already posted RM100,000 in MACC bail following a five-day remand earlier this month. Sukri said his client had four children, one still studying, and that raising another substantial sum would be burdensome.

He also told the court that the Court of Appeal had acquitted Faizoull last year of two charges of abetting another former senior Felda officer in a criminal breach of trust case involving RM47 million. According to The Edge Malaysia, the land is linked to the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City project awarded to Synergy Promenade. A civil suit between Felda and the developer is also before the High Court.

Faizoull’s charge came a day after former Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) chief executive officer Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil claimed trial to two cheating charges concerning the proposed commercial development of Felda land along Jalan Semarak. Bernama reported that the first charge alleges Mohd Zaid misled the FIC board into believing Synergy Promenade was qualified for appointment as project delivery partner–master developer, despite allegedly knowing it was qualified only as project delivery partner–master planner. The second charge concerns representations about the valuation of 24 Felda-owned parcels earmarked for commercial development.

Mohd Zaid allegedly represented that Firdaus & Associates Property Professionals Sdn Bhd had valued the land at RM330.96 million, despite allegedly knowing the valuer’s reported assessment was RM691.7 million. He is also alleged to have told the board that the Valuation and Property Services Department had provided an initial estimate of RM180 million when no such estimate had been given. According to the charge, the alleged misrepresentations induced the board to accept Synergy Promenade’s offer of a minimum guaranteed return of RM500 million or 10% of gross development value, whichever was higher.

The alleged offences occurred at Menara Felda on Jan 16 and April 29, 2014. Both charges were framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine or both upon conviction. The court granted Mohd Zaid bail of RM60,000 with one surety for both charges, ordered him to surrender his passport and report monthly to MACC, and fixed Oct 29 for the next court date.