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New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Prosecution seeks to reinstate Isa Samad's corruption conviction at top court
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has fixed Oct 29 to hear the prosecution's appeal to reinstate nine corruption charges involving former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad. Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said the date was fixed by deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yussof during a case management proceeding today. He said the court also instructed them to file their written submissions before Oct 14. The charges involved RM3 million in bribes allegedly linked to the purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak. The prosecution is seeking to reinstate the High Court's 2012 decision, which found Mohd Isa guilty and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment and a fine of RM15.45 million, in default of 18 years in prison. The prosecution filed the notice of appeal on March 7 last year and submitted the petition of appeal on June 26, listing 24 grounds as to why the Court of Appeal erred in acquitting Mohd Isa. The prosecution said the Court of Appeal was wrong in law in finding there was evidence from Ikhwan Zaidel indicating that Mohd Isa had never requested gratification from him in the two meetings with him in his office. The prosecution said Muhammad Zahid, who was one of the prosecution's witnesses, had understood the words to mean that anything given by Ikhwan should be accepted by him on behalf of Mohd Isa. It said the Court of Appeal made a contrary finding that the statement could not, in a literal sense, be interpreted as a specific request or directive to Muhammad Zahid to solicit a bribe from Ikhwan. The prosecution also argued that the Court of Appeal's findings of fact were inconsistent with the factual findings made by the High Court, which were based on evidence adduced through Muhammad Zahid and Ikhwan, both of whom were found to be credible witnesses. On March 6, 2024, a three-judge Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, sitting with Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Datuk S M Komathy Suppiah, unanimously overturned Mohd Isa's conviction and sentence. In his judgment, Vazeer Alam said there was no credible evidence to prove the existence of a code word "salam" (allegedly linked to the corruption charges) between Mohd Isa and his former special officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip. In 2018, Mohd Isa, now 75, was charged with nine counts of accepting bribes totalling RM3,090,000 from Ikhwan, then a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd (GAPSB), through Muhammad Zahid, as a reward for helping to approve the purchase of the hotel by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB) for RM160 million. The offences were allegedly committed on the 49th floor of Menara Felda, Persiaran KLCC, between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015. The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Premature deaths stalk zoo animals
As the Lahore Zoo and Safari Zoo await the import of new animals and birds, more than a dozen valuable and rare animals imported during the last four months have died, raising alarm bells among wildlife experts who blame the lack of zoo facilities. In 2023, the former caretaker government had launched a project to renovate the Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Zoo, for which Rs5 billion alongside an additional Rs350 million were allocated. As a large number of new animals and birds were imported, some of the animals died soon after settling in their new homes. Nine wildebeests, known for their large, curved horns, died at the Lahore Safari Zoo. Two new-born Nyala deer died a few days after birth. A semi-Oryx and its calf died during delivery. A Sindh ibex died due to deep wounds sustained during a fight, while a valuable python and a few other insects and monkeys also died. Similarly, a James Bok died due to illness at the Lahore Zoo while another was seriously injured. Lahore Zoo's Former Director Sheikh Muhammad Zahid clarified that these deaths occurred at different times and for varying reasons. "The James Bok was imported from a warm region of Africa. These animals were brought in November 2024. At that time, there was severe cold and smog in Lahore. Due to this, these animals fell ill and later died. The change of environment affects the health of animals," said Zahid. On the other hand, Dr Babar Saleem, who has been serving as a veterinary officer at the Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Zoo believed that premature animal deaths were a problem across zoos in Pakistan. "Unlike foreign countries, our zookeepers and veterinarians lack formal training while doctors are also not available 24 hours a day. No special feed is prepared for animals and birds. Apart from this, doctors are afraid of facing an inquiry while conducting any experiment on a sick animal. Hence, they are unable to use any new technique. All these factors contribute to the poor health of the animals," said Dr Saleem. WWF representative Dr Uzma Khan, who is also a member of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board, told The Express Tribune that when wild-caught animals were kept in captivity, they definitely got stressed, which affected their health. "Upon seeing some animals one can tell that they are caught from the wild, but this is difficult to prove since dealers usually prepare fake documents. When dealers import animals from other countries, they do not provide a medical history of the animals, and it is not known how they were brought. For instance, the Mona monkeys in Lahore Zoo were purchased from a local dealer but when these monkeys arrived some of them had died. Therefore, it is likely that the dealers import animals illegally," said Dr Uzma. Dr Khan's position is supported by the fact that the Nyala females imported to Lahore Zoo were a few months pregnant. They had to travel long distances during shipping hence the newborns were very weak at birth and died within a few days. This incident raises a very crucial question: when these animals were selected, did the experts not know that they would be unable to thrive in the environment of Pakistan? Addressing the concerns, Mudassar Hassan, Director of the Revamping Project, claimed that the animals, costing Rs350 million, were selected by a team of domestic and foreign experts. "The bidding documents for the purchase of animals contain conditions that only captive animals will be purchased. The contractor will be obliged to disclose the source of these animals and birds and if necessary, the DNA of the animals can also be obtained," said Hassan.
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Rs 350 million were allocated for the import of new animals and birds
As the Lahore Zoo and Safari Zoo await the import of new animals and birds, more than a dozen valuable and rare animals imported during the last four months have died, raising alarm bells among wildlife experts who blame the lack of zoo facilities. In 2023, the former caretaker government had launched a project to renovate the Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Zoo, for which Rs5 billion alongside an additional Rs350 million were allocated. As a large number of new animals and birds were imported, some of the animals died soon after settling in their new homes. Nine wildebeests, known for their large, curved horns, died at the Lahore Safari Zoo. Two new-born Nyala deer died a few days after birth. A semi-Oryx and its calf died during delivery. A Sindh ibex died due to deep wounds sustained during a fight, while a valuable python and a few other insects and monkeys also died. Similarly, a James Bok died due to illness at the Lahore Zoo while another was seriously injured. Lahore Zoo's Former Director Sheikh Muhammad Zahid clarified that these deaths occurred at different times and for varying reasons. 'The James Bok was imported from a warm region of Africa. These animals were brought in November 2024. At that time, there was severe cold and smog in Lahore. Due to this, these animals fell ill and later died. The change of environment affects the health of animals,' said Zahid. On the other hand, Dr Babar Saleem, who has been serving as a veterinary officer at the Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Zoo believed that premature animal deaths were a problem across zoos in Pakistan. 'Unlike foreign countries, our zookeepers and veterinarians lack formal training while doctors are also not available 24 hours a day. No special feed is prepared for animals and birds. Apart from this, doctors are afraid of facing an inquiry while conducting any experiment on a sick animal. Hence, they are unable to use any new technique. All these factors contribute to the poor health of the animals,' said Dr Saleem. WWF representative Dr Uzma Khan, who is also a member of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board, told The Express Tribune that when wild-caught animals were kept in captivity, they definitely got stressed, which affected their health. 'Upon seeing some animals one can tell that they are caught from the wild, but this is difficult to prove since dealers usually prepare fake documents. When dealers import animals from other countries, they do not provide a medical history of the animals, and it is not known how they were brought. For instance, the Mona monkeys in Lahore Zoo were purchased from a local dealer but when these monkeys arrived some of them had died. Therefore, it is likely that the dealers import animals illegally,' said Dr Uzma. Dr Khan's position is supported by the fact that the Nyala females imported to Lahore Zoo were a few months pregnant. They had to travel long distances during shipping hence the newborns were very weak at birth and died within a few days. This incident raises a very crucial question: when these animals were selected, did the experts not know that they would be unable to thrive in the environment of Pakistan? Addressing the concerns, Mudassar Hassan, Director of the Revamping Project, claimed that the animals, costing Rs350 million, were selected by a team of domestic and foreign experts. 'The bidding documents for the purchase of animals contain conditions that only captive animals will be purchased. The contractor will be obliged to disclose the source of these animals and birds and if necessary, the DNA of the animals can also be obtained,' said Hassan.
Express Tribune
25-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Continued animal deaths at Lahore Zoo raise concerns, but new births bring some relief
The tragic streak of rare and valuable animal deaths at Lahore Zoo persists, with the latest casualties including a female Markhor, a James' Buck, and a Sable Antelope. Meanwhile, a white tigress underwent a successful surgery for a fractured leg, and the birth of new animals has provided some solace to the zoo administration. A female James' Buck, recently imported from abroad, succumbed to an infection on Tuesday after battling health complications for weeks due to cold weather. Despite ongoing treatment, the animal could not survive. Just two days earlier, a female Markhor, Pakistan's national animal, suddenly passed away. Similarly, a Sable Antelope also died, adding to the zoo's recent string of losses. Lahore Zoo Director Sheikh Muhammad Zahid stated that the Markhor appeared to be in perfect health before its sudden demise. The carcass was sent to the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences for a post-mortem examination. Initial findings suggest a possible heart attack, but the final cause of death will only be determined after a detailed report. Meanwhile, the James' Buck's death has been attributed to an infection. In another incident, a female white tiger—born with a congenital limb deformity—suffered a severe leg and knee fracture after accidentally falling into a trench in her enclosure. Veterinary surgeons from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences successfully performed an operation, inserting metal plates into the tigress's leg. However, she is expected to undergo another surgery for full recovery. The zoo administration remains hopeful for her rehabilitation. Amidst these losses, there was some positive news as well. The zoo witnessed new births, bringing a glimmer of joy. Three Sindh Ibexes and an Oryx calf were born, offering a moment of relief to the grieving administration.
