The MACC today asserted that the court has not acquitted former Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim of 13 corruption and money laundering charges.
The anti-graft watchdog reiterated this in a media statement in response to submissions by the accused’s legal team during his appeal before the Court of Appeal yesterday.
During yesterday’s hearing of Azeez’ appeal to quash the three corruption and 10 money laundering charges, lead defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad submitted that despite the MACC financial analysis report absolving the appellant of wrongdoing, the accused was still hit with the 13 charges.
The accused’s trial before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court is currently stayed, pending the disposal of the appeal. He is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision on March 12, which refused his bid to quash the 13 charges.
The MACC asserted that what was presented by Abdul Azeez’s legal team during Court of Appeal proceedings yesterday was merely submission and not something that has been decided by the judiciary.
The anti-graft watchdog contended that despite certain media reporting over the Court of Appeal proceedings giving the impression that Azeez has been acquitted from the corruption and money laundering charges, it reiterated that in reality, the court has not made any such decision.
“Referring to the statement by former Tabung Haji chairperson Azeez’s lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who submitted before the Court of Appeal yesterday that a financial analysis report by the MACC before this absolved his client from corruption prosecution, the MACC wished to assert that the statement is mere submission and has yet to be decided on by the court,” the graft buster said.
“The MACC hopes that members of the public would not speculate the case which is still in the stage of the hearing, before the court could hear the reply submission from the prosecution against the submission from Azeez’ lawyer on Oct 6,” the MACC added.
On Oct 6, the Court of Appeal is set to hear the prosecution’s counter-submission against the arguments raised by Azeez’ legal team in his appeal to nullify the 13 corruption and money laundering charges.
Azeez is facing three counts of accepting bribes of RM5.2 million in relation to the road projects in Kedah and Perak.
He also faces 10 counts of money laundering involving RM13.9 million, which he purportedly received from Menuju Asas.
The graft offences were allegedly perpetrated at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.
In relation to the money laundering charges, Azeez was alleged to have committed the offences in the Klang Valley area, between March 8, 2010, and Aug 30, 2018.
Azeez's older brother Abdul Latif was initially charged with abetting him on two counts of obtaining an RM4 million bribe, as gratification for aiding Menuju Asas secure road projects via a limited tender from the Works Ministry.
However, following an application by the prosecution on Feb 8, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted Latif a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
The prosecution had sought the DNAA over the two abetment charges, in return for Latif to testify against Azeez in the corruption and money laundering trial.
However, Latif has since filed a revision application for the Kuala Lumpur High Court to substitute the DNAA ruling with a full acquittal. The High Court is set to hear the application on Dec 10. - Mkini
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