Source The Star Online :
Former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was sentenced to 1 year jail and his bungalow forfeited.
However Dr Khir gets a stay of execution pending an appeal.
He was found guilty by the High Court in Shah Alam, Selangor on Friday, 23rd December 2011 of knowingly purchasing two pieces of land and a bungalow in Section 7 at a much lower price than its original value from Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni in 2007.
The property here was purchased at RM3.5 million although Ditamas had bought it for RM6.5 million on Dec 23, 2004.
The court found that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt in the case.
Justice Mohtarudin Baki said in his ruling that he found key witness Shamsuddin not an accomplice of the accused.
(Shamsuddin was initially charged with abetting Dr Khir but later had his charge withdrawn and turned to a prosecution witness).
Justice Mohtarudin said he had no reason to reject Shamsuddin's testimony as he has observed his demeanor throughout the trial.
During the trial, Dr Mohd Khir Toyo told the High Court that he had a serious disagreement with the contractor engaged to do the initial renovation work on his house.
The contractor, Nasir Ismail, 55, did not deliver as agreed on the contract signed with him to equip the house with the basic necessities, he said.
Dr Khir, said he had agreed to pay Nasir RM600,000 for the initial work.
He added that he paid only RM400,000 and refused to pay the remaining RM200,000 because the wiring work done was shoddy.
This had angered Nasir so much that he went to the extent of removing furniture from the premises, Dr Mohd Khir alleged.
He said he had to change the motor of the auto gate of the house to prevent Nasir from entering.
Dr Khir also said the purchase of the property was between a willing buyer and willing seller.
He added that he would not have bought the house if Shamsuddin had not wanted to sell at RM3.5 million.
Dr Mohd Khir Toyo also denied he had bought the house in Section 7, below the market price.
He told the Shah Alam High Court that a qualified valuer appointed by HSBC bank had determined the house price tag at RM3.5 million.
He denied using his influence to acquire the house below the market value.
Dr Mohd Khir said the house was only between 50 and 60 percent completed when he had bought it.
He said he was interested in buying the incomplete house because it gave him the opportunity to build according to his choice of design.
Dr Mohd Khir was alleged to have made the transaction when he was the Selangor Menteri Besar then.
Selangor is now in the hands of opposition Pakatan Rakyat, the new Menteri Besar is Datuk Khalid Ibrahim from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
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