Khir charged with mansion land deal fraud

Tuesday December 7, 2010
Khir charged with mansion land deal fraud
By ONG HAN SEAN
hansean@thestar.com.my

Khir Toyo pleads not guilty

SHAH ALAM: Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has been charged with land fraud involving two plots of land and a house in Shah Alam worth millions of ringgit.

He was charged at the Sessions Court here with knowingly purchasing the properties from Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni in 2007 much lower than its original price.
Shamsuddin (left) and Khir leaving the courthouse after they were charged with fraud over the sale of two plots of land and a house worth millions of ringgit

Dr Khir, 45, is alleged to have committed the offence at the Selangor Mentri Besar’s official residence on May 29 when he obtained for himself and his wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik the two plots of land and house from Shamsuddin at RM3.5mil.

Ditamas had bought the lots on Dec 23, 2004 for RM6.5mil.

Dr Khir was the mentri besar at that time.

Shamsuddin is charged under Section 109 and Section 165 of the Penal Code with abetting Dr Khir in the deal.

Both pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh yesterday.

If convicted, they can be jailed up to two years, fined or both.
The former Mentri Besar is being charged with fraud involving this house in Shah Alam worth millions of ringgit.

Dr Khir, who is Sungai Panjang assemblyman, arrived at the court here at 11.25am yesterday accompanied by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers and with heavy police presence.

The prosecution led by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had offered bail at RM1mil each, saying the case was very serious and had drawn a lot of public attention.

Dr Khir’s lawyer M. Athimulan asked for a lower bail, saying that his client would not skip bail as he was an assemblyman.

Azhaniz Teh set bail at RM750,000 each.

No mention date was fixed as the prosecution had applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court.

In a press conference afterwards, Gani commended the MACC for a thorough investigation.

He added that 16 witnesses would be called by the prosecution.

“The full force of the law will be applied to protect the witnesses and ensure no interference of any kind,” Gani said.

Asked why it had taken so long for the case to be brought to court, Gani said a very detailed investigation had to be done into how the land was obtained and transacted.

“A piece of land being bought cheaper does not automatically mean an offence has been committed.

“MACC had to check every detail to make sure the case was not flimsy,” he said.

Dr Khir left the court at 3.15pm after his bail was posted at about 3pm by a man believed to be his brother.

The former mentri besar told reporters that the bail amount was too high, and that was why his family members took about three hours to raise the money.

Dr Khir was accompanied by an assistant and a few friends to the court.

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