KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer told the High Court in Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s criminal breach of trust and money laundering trial the authorities did not abuse their powers in probing the Muar MP.
Khairi Muhamad Rodi said three investigation papers (IPs) had been opened against Syed Saddiq in 2020, which included his IP under Section 27 of the MACC Act for allegedly making false statements in relation to RM250,000 that had gone missing.
He said he and five colleagues went to Syed Saddiq’s house in Petaling Jaya on March 31, 2020 to gather information as they wanted to find out the source of the RM250,000.
Khairi also said he seized a phone belonging to star witness and then Bersatu assistant secretary Rafiq Hakim Razali as part of his investigation.
However, lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, in cross-examining Khairi, pointed out that the act of going to Syed Saddiq’s house was an abuse of power by MACC.
“There was no case at all against him (Syed Saddiq). You and the others were there to ‘look’ for a case against him,” Gobind said.
“How can you classify the case as a ‘giving false statement’ offence when the investigation had just begun (during the material time)?”
Responding, Khairul denied that MACC had abused its powers, saying the investigation was launched based on information received. He did not state where the information came from.
“Disagree,” he said when asked by Gobind whether MACC had abused its powers.
Syed Saddiq, who was the Bersatu Youth chief then, is standing trial on four counts of CBT and money laundering, and is alleged to have misappropriated a total of RM1.12 million belonging to the party.
From the amount, RM120,000 was said to be party funds for the 2018 general election, while RM1 million was allegedly withdrawn by him without the top leadership’s consent.
He has also pleaded not guilty to the two charges of money laundering amounting to RM50,000 each.
The hearing before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid continues tomorrow. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.