Disgraced former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has been sentenced to a year in prison for abuse of power in purchasing land and a bungalow at a steep discount in 2007.
Federal Court judge Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin in delivering the verdict today also upheld the previous lower court decision to have the improperly-purchased property seized.
In response to Khir’s plea to be sentenced to community service, Zulkefli said that reducing the UMNO politician’s punishment was not appropriate in this case, and would “shatter public confidence in the government,” as quoted by The Malaysian Insider.
During his appeal hearing last week, Khir and his attorney Muhammad Shafee Abdullah argued that Khir be handed a more lenient sentence. Khir also promised to provide the people of Selangor with free dental care if he was sentenced to community service.
Khir is a dentist by training.
With the Federal Court having delivered its verdict and upheld the sentence on Khir, he can now only turn to the Sultan of Selangor to apply for a royal pardon.
