AG can drop charges, says Rahim

By Shannon Teoh

March 31, 2011

Rahim was accused of trading his posts for freedom from prosecution for alleged statutory rape. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik has denied any wrongdoing in the dismissal of his graft charges in 1999, claiming that these decisions were within the remit of then Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah.

Former Kuala Lumpur criminal investigation chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim previously alleged that the former Malacca chief minister had been “indemnified” from the charges by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mohtar and current AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in exchange for his resignation from all government and political posts.

“I don’t know. The power of the AG supersedes it,” when asked if the allegations were true after speaking at a Kelab Umno event last night.

Mat Zain had made the claim in an open letter to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar on Monday stating that he did not expect the former Umno Youth chief to be prosecuted for his role in video purportedly showing Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a foreign prostitute, due to the ultimate involvement of Abdul Gani.

Abdul Rahim had claimed responsibility along with businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim for the 21-minute video, stating that he wanted to show the country that “a person with high ambitions of wanting to be national leader and prime minister of Malaysia was not qualified.”

Abdul Gani had also declined to comment on the claims when contacted by The Malaysian Insider on Tuesday.

While confident the police would investigate the case professionally and impartially, Mat Zain said he had scant faith in the AG’s ability to discharge his duties without favour, citing Abdul Gani’s alleged protection of Rahim from prosecution on graft charges in 1999.

“This investigation will later be handled by Abdul Gani as the Attorney-General. It is at this stage where it is expected that manipulation, fraud and forgery will occur,” he said.

During his speech last night, Abdul Rahim also appeared to insist that Anwar was the man in the video despite the PKR de facto leader’s denial.

“There is proof but politicians nowadays are big liars. He says it looks like me, but it’s not me,” he said without naming Anwar specifically. - Malaysian Insider