PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court upheld the 12-month jail term against former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo over involvement in property-related graft eight years ago.

The five-man bench chaired, by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, issued the ruling against 50-year old Dr Khir, who helmed the state’s chief executive position for eight years until 2008. Zulkefli, speaking on behalf of the entire panel, ruled that community service was an inadequate penalty for the offence perpetrated by Dr Khir.

The panel also upheld the Shah Alam High Court’s forfeiture order on the two plots of land and a house involved in the 2007 offence.

After proceedings, a serious-looking Dr Khir was seen shaking hands with supporters before he, accompanied by his wife Zahrah Kechik, 50, was escorted out of the courtroom around 2.10pm.

He would serve his jail term at Kajang Prisons.

On Sept 22, the apex court dismissed Dr Khir’s appeal against his conviction for using his then-MB position to buy two plots of land and a house worth a collective RM6.5 million for only RM3.5 million, in 2007.

The former Sungai Panjang assemblyman(Dr Khir) was first charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Dec 8, 2010.

The case was later transferred to the Shah Alam High Court. Dr Khir was accused of acquiring the property from Ditamas Sdn Bhd through its director, Datuk Shamsuddin Hayroni.

The company allegedly paid RM6.5 million for the property before selling it to Dr Khir for only RM3.5 million.

Dr Khir was accused of committing an offence punishable with maximum two years’ jail, fine, or both per Section 165 of the Penal Code.

On Dec 23, 2011, Dr Khir was convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ jail by the Shah Alam High Court.

The court had also ordered the property involved be forfeited.

However, the court allowed Dr Khir’s application to stay execution of the verdict pending disposal of his appeal.

The Court of Appeal threw out his appeal on May 30, 2013.

Last week, the Federal Court panel – also consisting of judges Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop, Tan Sri Hasan Lah, Tan Sri Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha dan Datuk Ramly Ali – upheld Dr Khir’s guilty finding.

The panel had also heard Dr Khir’s plea to be spared jail time and that he either be punished with a fine or an order for him to offer free dental care to the poor as mandatory community service.

Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah led Dr Khir’s legal team while the prosecution is headed by deputy public prosecutor Idham Abd Ghani.

– New Strait Times