Sri Ram: Prosecutors had strong case against Musa, but it was ordered closed

Gopal Sri Ram told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that the prosecution has a strong case against former Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

The special prosecutor added that the case against Musa had already been investigated by the MACC for some time.

"But for the strangest reason, the case had been ordered to be closed previously," he said.

According to Sri Ram, two or three foreign witnesses will be brought in to testify in the case.

Musa today claimed trial to 35 counts of graft over getting kickbacks of more than US$63 million (RM263 million) in awarding timber concessions between 2004 and 2008.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Sri Ram said he finds it amazing that Abdul Gani Patail, the attorney-general at the time, did not order for Musa to be prosecuted.

"Credit should go attorney-general Tommy Thomas and the team in the MACC, comprising chief commissioner Mohd Sukri Abdull, his deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki and deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib and Kamal Bahrin Omar."

Sri Ram also credited MACC director of money-laundering investigations Zamri Zainal Abidin and his deputy investigating officer identified only as Hasbullah.

It was previously reported that Gani – who hails from Sabah – is a relative of Musa.

The MACC operations review panel had once sought a review of the case against Musa and his associate Michael Chia. - Mkini