KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad has denied receiving a total of RM3.09 million in bribes over its subsidiary's purchase of a hotel in Kuching for RM160 million.

Testifying during his graft trial at the High Court here today, he added that he had never asked his former aide Muhammad Zahid Md Arip to solicit and accept money on his behalf to secure Felda Investment Corp Sdn Bhd's (FIC) agreement to buy the Merdeka Palace Hotel Suites (MPHS) in Kuching six years ago.

Isa, 70, also denied receiving any money from Syarikat Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd former director, Ikhwan Zaidel, who was the owner of MPHS, during his graft trial at the High Court here.

"Let me reiterate, I have never discussed or asked Zahid to ask from Ikhwan on my behalf for graft in order for me to approve the hotel purchase. I have never sent my 'salam' (greetings) to Ikhwan as he [did] not have anything to do with me nor [did] I know him personally," he said.

Ikhwan earlier testified that "salam" (greetings) was a code used by Zahid whenever he demanded bribes on behalf of Isa.

"In my meetings with [Ikhwan] which only took place twice, I emphasised to him that I [had] no authority to approve the purchase. Hence, why should I ask for money? I [had] never asked anything from Ikhwan and he [had] not promised to give me any gratification," the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar added.

Isa, who was Umno vice-president, was answering questions from his lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin.

The politician refuted his former aide's claim that the latter had delivered the bribe to him in a paper bag, saying he only delivered documents to his office.

"As a politician, I am always careful and it [was] not possible for me to receive money in huge amounts at the Felda Tower where there [were] a lot of other staff," he said, adding that it was impossible for him to carry so much money or allow his officers to do so.

He said only the auxiliary police and his secretary Zuraida had the access code to his office at Menara Felda, and no one was allowed to enter his office if he was not around.

Earlier, Isa admitted that he received a call from former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak for Felda and FIC to reconsider going ahead with the MPHS purchase. He then brought this up with FIC's then chief executive officer Zaid Jalil, but did not put any pressure on the subsidiary's board — which he chaired — to approve the acquisition.

Ikhwan, who is a prosecution witness, said that on Sept 25, 2014, he was informed by Gegasan Abadi's finance department that FIC had paid RM43.126 million to Jang Assets Networking Group Ltd for the purchase of the hotel.

The amount was meant to pay Gegasan Abadi's debt to Jang Assets, he said.

Zahid then contacted him and sent Isa's greetings, which he interpreted as a request for a bribe, and agreed.

"I told Zahid that when Gegasan Abadi [received] payment from FIC, the payment [for the bribe would] be made," he testified.

He then paid the RM3.09 million in eight tranches between October 2014 and December 2015.

On June 16, Isa was ordered by Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali to enter into his defence for nine graft charges in relation to receiving a total of RM3.09 million from Ikhwan for Zahid in return for approving the hotel purchase.

The graft charges were made under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, under which Isa stands to face a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the amount of bribes he received.

Isa was, however, acquitted of one count of criminal breach of trust in relation to the MPHS purchase by FIC.

The proceedings will continue on Wednesday.