"I want to reiterate that I did not purposely commit the offence and had never crossed my mind and in my heart to do so," former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
He said this when given a chance to mitigate before sentencing by the Federal Court here today which upheld his conviction for using his position to obtain land and a bungalow in Shah Alam eight years ago.
"This is my first offence. I am a dentist and I did not know what law is about. In the exco meeting, I declared it, and to the sultan and the prime minister I also declared that I had no intention to commit the offence.
"When I look at my mother, I cried because I feel guilty for having hurt her feelings and also that of my family," he said and pleaded to the court to consider his appeal.
Dr Mohamad Khir also said his children were still young and he was their role model.
He said he had also went though sufferings and life hardship since 2010 and was ashamed to face the society.
A dentist by profession, he said he had provided free dental treatment to the people in Sabah when he was there for two years.
"I still practice and has a valid dentist licence and still provide treatment to my family members and friends," he added.
Dr Mohamad Khir also said he had succeeded in bringing development to Selangor when he was the menteri besar.
"I had also increased investments in Selangor from RM6 billion in 2000 to RM13.8 billion in 2008, providing between 30,000 and 40,000 employment opportunities a year," he said, adding that he worked 18 hours a day for 8 years while he was menteri besar to develop Selangor.
He said he was also able to resolve the squatter problems in Selangor, where more than 40,000 squatter families were transferred to more comfortable homes, and also reduced the poverty rate from two per cent to one per cent.
"Tithe collection also increased, from RM40 million to RM250 million," he added.
He said a special fund was set up for the non-Muslims to contribute towards helping the those in need.
Dr Mohamad Khir had taken his case to the Federal Court after losing his appeal in the Court of Appeal on May 30, 2013.
Today, the Federal Court upheld his conviction, but deferred its decision to Sept 29 to sentence him.
Bernama
Tue Sep 22 2015
Dr Mohamad Khir had taken his case to the Federal Court after losing his appeal in the Court of Appeal on May 30, 2013. - Astro AWANI/SHAHIR OMAR
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