Warisan lawmaker Rozman Isli pleaded not guilty today to one count of graft linked to his time as Labuan Port Authority (LPA) deputy chairperson three years ago.
The Labuan MP made this plea when charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning.
"I plead not guilty and claim trial," the accused said when the charge was read out before judge Rozina Ayob.
He was accused of using his position as then LPA deputy chairperson to obtain a government contract for a company, whereby his father and sibling allegedly have an interest in.
According to the charge sheet, the government contract is to be the operator of Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan.
The company allegedly involved is Syarikat Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd.
Rozman (above) was alleged to have committed the offence at TKSU meeting room, level 9, Transport Ministry, Putrajaya, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 23, 2018.
The charge is framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009.
Bail set at RM100,000
If convicted under Section Section 24(1) of the act, he faces a maximum 20-year jail term, fine of not less than five times the gratification amount, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
After Rozman's not-guilty plea was recorded, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that both the prosecution and defence have agreed on bail be set at RM100,000 in one surety.
The DPP added that both parties have also agreed for the bail condition of the accused's international passport to be kept by the court pending disposal of the case.
Rozman's defence counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali confirmed to the court about the matter.
Rozina allowed RM100,000 bail in one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport.
Avoid complications
The judge directed that the bailor needs to be one based in Peninsular Malaysia rather than Labuan.
She explained that this is in order to avoid complications that may arise if the movement control order (MCO) or something similar is imposed again by the government.
(Last year, the government imposed a nationwide MCO, which curtailed interstate travel, among others, in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.)
She then set Nov 19 for mention.
Yesterday, it was reported that the former Umno lawmaker would be charged by the MACC at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.
On July 2, 2018, Borneo Post Online reported former Labuan MP Suhaili Abd Rahman as urging the MACC to investigate purported abuse of power in Labuan Corporation related to the sale of land and buy-over of 260 units belonging to it at the Kampung Ganggarak housing development project.
Suhaili reportedly claimed that the local authority sold 40 acres of land at a lower price and below market value, to a private developer for a housing development project, which allegedly occurred several years back during Rozman’s tenure as LC chairperson. - Mkini
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