Former Labuan Port Authority (LPA) deputy chairperson Rozman Isli’s father and younger brother were the smallest shareholders in Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd (LLPM), the court heard.
Adlin Shahira Mohd Roslan, who is an assistant company registrar with the Companies Commission of Malaysia, testified this during today’s corruption trial against the former Labuan MP at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
The abuse of power case against Rozman (above) revolved around the contention that the accused, as the then officer of a government agency or deputy chairperson of LPA, had used his position to solicit bribes for an employment contract - namely to operate Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan - for LLPM, in which his father and younger brother have an interest.
During cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali this morning, 22nd prosecution witness Adlin said Rozman’s father and brother - Isli Siput @ Ali and Tony Noolan S Isli - collectively only held 62,500 shares from the total of three million shares in LLPM.
The rest of the shares are held by the following individuals and companies: Mohd Alias Abd Rahman (1,350,000 units), Tunas Rakyat Sdn Bhd (737,500 units), Norsiah Abdullah (300,000 units), Halizah Ramlee @ Halizah Ramli (200,000 units), DPL Corporation Berhad (200,000 units), and Rokiah Ibrahim (150,000 units).
Referring to LLPM’s annual return filings from 2017 until 2020, Adlin said Isli and Tony each had only 31,250 share units.
Rafique: If we look at your witness statement, you agree that both Isli and Tony as shareholders held the smallest number of shares in LLPM?
Adlin: I agree.
Rafique: They each only held 1.04 percent shareholdings of the total of three million shares?
Adlin: I agree.
Previously, the seventh prosecution witness, LLPM security manager Mohamad Kasli Sulaiman Darja, testified that Rozman did not disclose the duo’s shareholdings.
Previous proceedings also saw the 13th prosecution witness, former LPA board member Simsudin Sidek, giving oral evidence that he did not know that Rozman had an interest in LLPM.
Single prosecution witness
Towards the end of proceedings today after Adlin’s testimony wrap-up, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi informed the court that the prosecution has no other witnesses today and that they would call further witnesses when the trial resumes next month.
Trial judge Rozina Ayob then reminded both the prosecution and defence teams that it is important to ensure that there are enough witnesses to be called to testify during the ongoing proceedings.
She said this was to ensure optimum use of the court’s time and avoid situations where a single day of proceedings only see a single witness give oral evidence, such as today with Adlin.
“I hope that you manage your time (properly). It does not mean that when I give 15 days (of trial), you spread out (the witness testimonies) over those 15 days,” the judge told the opposing sides.
Feisal then informed the court that the prosecution may be able to wrap up their case by early March this year, with among the prosecution witnesses left to testify being former LPA chairperson and current Tanjung Piai MP Wee Jeck Seng as well as the MACC investigating officer in the case against Rozman.
Rozina then set for trial to resume on March 6.
On Oct 14, 2021, before the Sessions Court, Rozman, 58, claimed trial for the single graft charge.
He was alleged to have committed the offence at the TKSU Meeting Room, Level 9, Ministry of Transport Malaysia, Jalan Tun Hussein, Precinct 4, Putrajaya, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.
Rozman was Labuan MP from May 5, 2013 until Nov 19 last year.
The charge is framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act with a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
During a press conference held immediately after he was charged, Rozman claimed he was hauled to court over his refusal to defect from Warisan and back the Perikatan Nasional administration. - Mkini
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