Hamzah sends letter of demand to govt, MACC chief

 

Former home minister Hamzah Zainudin has sent a letter of demand to the government and MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, accusing them of abusing their powers to prosecute him for crimes he did not commit.

The Perikatan Nasional secretary-general alleged that a businessperson was subjected to abuse under detention to implicate Hamzah (above).

“MACC officers interrogated and threatened a businessperson named Steven Sim Choo Thiam until 4am, which is a breach of lock-up rules.

“He was threatened with criminal action and detention unless he implicated me in the wrongdoing, and he was subject to improper mental pressure and intimidation while incarcerated at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

“The officers shouted at him and were unhappy when he kept saying that I was not involved in any wrongdoing, and I feel both the MACC and the government are conspiring to use lawful and unlawful means to destroy my reputation,” he was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.

“Since I feel that I am being selectively prosecuted, I am compelled to send them a letter of demand to ask them to cease and desist from continually trying to defame me and tarnish my reputation,” he added.

The businessperson is facing four charges related to soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM15 million to secure projects from the Home Ministry.

On July 4, he filed a notice to set aside the charges.

‘Public can change cruel behaviour’

Hamzah alleged that MACC launched an investigation into the matter after a blog post stated that Sim had bribed him in return for government projects but there was no evidence to substantiate this.

The opposition leader also cited Sim’s police report on June 6 where he claimed that MACC officers had pressured him to implicate Hamzah and promised him his freedom in return.

“This is what I mean by cruelty, villainy. Only the public can change this kind of behaviour by ensuring such people are not in power anymore.

“We can’t be living in fear and these people are purposely abusing their power to intimidate us,” he added.

Hamzah said the letter of demand was also sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. - Mkini