Judge Allaudeen Ismail made the order against Felda deputy general manager (Strategic Resource Management) Muhammad Sufi Mahbub, 54, and former general manager Faizoull Ahmad, 58, after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against them.

The court fixed five days from March 23 to hear their defence.

Sufi was charged with dishonestly giving approval for payment of RM25,999,000 and RM21,625,500 respectively, without approval of the Felda board of directors or the Felda Tender Committee.

He allegedly committed the offences at Wisma Felda, Jalan Perumahan Gurney, between Jan 13, 2014 and July 23, 2014.

The charge, under Section 409 of Penal Code, provides imprisonment for up to 20 years, with whipping and fine, upon conviction.

Faizoull was charged with two counts of abetting Sufi under Section 109 of the Penal Code which provides for a similar punishment upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz prosecuted, while Sufi and Faizoull were represented by lawyers Heather Marie Anthony and Azad Basher, respectively.