KUALA LUMPUR: The impeachment proceeding against a defence witness in former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial has been adjourned to give time to defence lawyers to do research before making a submission.
Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that an interesting point of law had been raised for the first time.
It is whether a document classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) can be used to impeach the credibility of a witness.
Sequerah allowed the adjournment to Oct 31.
Earlier today, the judge allowed the prosecution’s bid to impeach contractor Jefri Jamil, the third defence witness in Zahid’s trial.
Jefri’s evidence in court today is said to have differed from that given to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Sequerah said the application made by the prosecution under Section 155(c) of the Evidence Act did not indicate as to whether the document (statement recorded by MACC) was classified under the OSA or otherwise.
After examining a portion of the statement given by the prosecution, the judge went on to rule that there were material contradictions.
Jefri is a witness who was offered by the prosecution when Zahid was ordered to enter his defence. The MACC had recorded a statement from him in 2018.
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Toran later said based on case law, only the judge and the witness could be involved in the proceeding.
She said the statement would be marked as an exhibit and a copy would be given to the defence.
Raja Rozela said Jefri would be given an opportunity to explain why there were contradictions in the statement and his evidence in court.
Zahid is standing trial on charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi and for accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister.
Twenty-seven charges are for money laundering and another eight are for corruption. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.