A former director-general of Felda, Datuk Faizoull Ahmad, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of cheating related to the transfer of Felda land plots. The charge was read in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, presided over by Judge Suzana Hussin.
Faizoull, 66, is accused of misleading Felda’s board of directors by concealing a Power of Attorney dated June 3, 2014, which authorised Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd to transfer ownership of 16 land plots associated with a Felda development project located on Jalan Semarak. According to prosecution, this deception induced the board to approve the transfer of the lands to Synergy Promenade KLVC Sdn Bhd and Synergy Promenade, resulting in the alleged misappropriation. The alleged offence took place on September 2, 2014, at the Felda boardroom in Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC.
Faizoull faces charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of one to ten years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor N. Joy Jothi described the offence as serious and requested bail be set at RM100,000 in one surety, along with conditions to impound Faizoull’s passport and require monthly reporting to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Faizoull’s lawyer, Datuk Sukri Mohamed, argued for a lower bail of RM30,000. He highlighted that his client had previously been charged and acquitted in a separate case by the High Court in September 2022, an acquittal upheld by the Court of Appeal in November 2025. Sukri also noted that Faizoull's passport had been suspended for over four years, contending this as evidence that his client did not attempt to flee and had cooperated fully with investigations. He emphasized Faizoull’s voluntary court appearance and cooperation during police and MACC inquiries.
Sukri drew comparisons to a former Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) CEO recently charged with two counts linked to the same broader investigation, who was granted bail of RM60,000 for both charges. Given that Faizoull was charged with only one count, Sukri requested bail be set at half that amount to ensure equality.
The prosecution countered that the previous acquittal was unrelated to the current charge and dismissed the relevance of the FIC CEO’s case, maintaining the suggested bail of RM100,000. The prosecutor also pointed out that Faizoull’s passport suspension was a factor in preventing absconding.
The defence further stated that Faizoull had deposited RM100,000 in cash with the MACC during a remand period from September 6 to 11, which remained with the agency. Sukri described the higher bail demand as a potential double punishment, referencing his client’s clean court attendance record and government service status.
Judge Suzana ultimately set bail at RM70,000 in one surety and approved additional bail conditions requested by the prosecution. The case is scheduled for mention on November 6.