Prosecutor: Be fair to Azam, Muhyiddin's trial not relying on edited videos alone

 

The lead prosecutor in Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial has defended the use of edited videos in his case against the Bersatu president amid criticism levelled against perceived double standards by the MACC.

This is after the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) yesterday urged MACC to clarify its position on using edited videos as evidence in investigations into the former premier.

Newly appointed deputy head II of the Attorney-General’s Chambers Trial and Appeal division, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, said it was his decision to use edited videos in the trial, and not Azam's.

“I think C4 Center should be fair to (MACC chief commissioner) Azam Baki. This is beyond his control. That's my call since the trial has begun. And I think I'm not answerable to C4 Center," Wan Shaharuddin (above) told Malaysiakini today.

He added that the videos were used to show Muhyiddin acknowledging that funds were channelled to Bersatu and that he did not pocket the money, and that this will be followed up by other evidence, including testimony from bank officers.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki

C4 Center chief executive officer Pushpan Murugiah said yesterday that the prosecution submitting edited videos as evidence should not be criticised, as it may possess probative value that the court could rely upon if the videos are deemed admissible.

However, he said it casts significant doubt on Azam’s prior position on the Sabah corruption scandal videos, which were deemed unusable and not credible due to being edited.

This is in reference to videos of conversations that bribe-giver-turned-whistleblower Albert Tei had with over a dozen Sabah politicians discussing alleged graft and kickbacks.

Unedited versions of the videos have been submitted to the MACC, although only two politicians have been charged thus far.

Different goals

This contradiction in the MACC's position had also been raised by Muhyiddin's defence lawyers during the trial.

When asked for his perspective on the contradiction regarding the use of edited videos, Wan Shaharuddin said it is because prosecutors and enforcement agencies have different goals.

Muhyiddin Yassin

"It's simple. Investigations have one objective, and prosecution has another. We only prosecute cases that have a 99 percent chance of winning. The remaining one percent is God and the court," he said.

Muhyiddin is on trial for abuse of power and money laundering involving RM255.3 million.

The charges were related to Jana Wibawa, a project introduced while he was prime minister between 2020 and 2021 to accelerate project implementation and boost the country’s economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini