Wan Saiful’s alleged research officer charged

 

Former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s alleged research officer was hauled to court today over purported obstruction of MACC investigation.

Mohamad Shafiq Abdul Halim, 32, pleaded not guilty before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court over a charge under Section 48(c) of the MACC Act 2009.

Previously, he was detained by MACC following online comments that the anti-graft watchdog had offered RM10 million to Wan Saiful to frame former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

During open-court proceedings before judge Suzana Hussin this morning, Shafiq was accused of failing to abide by an order to appear before MACC’s assistant enforcement officer Shahidan Muhammad Saparuddin to have the former’s statement recorded as part of an investigation.

The offence is punishable with a fine up to RM10,000, imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both, if convicted.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib applied for bail to be set at RM10,000 with one surety and for the accused’s passport be to ordered surrendered to the court - pending disposal of the case.

DPP applies for gag order against Shafiq

The DPP also applied for the court to issue a gag order to prevent Shafiq from making any public statement regarding the case, pending disposal of the case.

Shafiq’s counsel Chetan Jethwani said while the defence team generally agreed with the proposed RM10,000 bail amount and passport-surrendering bail term while expressing their thinking that the amount was high, they objected to the prosecution’s application for the gag order.

Chetan said that the prosecution should instead file a formal written application for the gag order, so that Shafiq’s legal team can also peruse the application and mount a proper response against it.

Former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan

Suzana then fixed bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport by tomorrow.

On Feb 21, Wan Saiful was slapped with two graft charges in relation to the Jana Wibawa programme - first for soliciting a bribe of an unspecified amount and second for receiving a bribe of RM6.96 million between July 8, 2022, and Sept 30, 2022.

The Bersatu leader claimed the charges were selective prosecution and politically motivated. - Mkini