Abdul Azeez submits another representation to drop corruption, money laundering charges

KUALA LUMPUR: After failing to strike out three corruption and six money laundering charges at the Court of Appeal, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim once again made another representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim said the latest court representation was sent on Sept 5, the same day the Court of Appeal rejected Abdul Azeez's application to cancel nine charges against him.

"The representation was received by the prosecution on Sept 5, nonetheless it has not been brought to the attention of the Attorney-General. Even though the issues submitted in the representation were the same as the earlier representation, the prosecution needs to obtain instruction from the Attorney General on the representation," she said during the mention of the case before Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who represented the Baling MP confirmed that his firm had sent a representation to cancel the nine charges which was a follow-up to the previous representations and it contained the same facts.

"I understand that they (prosecution) are still studying the representation. Therefore, we are asking for a mention date to be set to get feedback regarding the progress of the representation. We are also ready if the court wants to set a date for resumption of the hearing if the representation is not accepted," he said.

Azura set Sept 23 for the mention of the case to know the status of the representation and will set a new hearing date if the representation is rejected.

Outside the court, Amer Hamzah told the media that they had submitted the representation for the fifth time.

On Sept 5, Abdul Azeez failed in his appeal at the Court of Appeal to overturn the three charges of corruption and six charges of money laundering he was facing.

A three-judge panel consisting of Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali rejected Abdul Azeez's appeal to quash the nine charges after ruling that the charges against him were not defective and ordered the trial of the case in the Sessions Court to continue.

However, the panel allowed the appeal of the former Tabung Haji chairman to cancel four charges of money laundering.

Abdul Azeez, 55, is facing three charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 million and six charges of money laundering worth RM972,414.60 in relation to road projects in Perak and Kedah.

All the acts were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak, Maybank Islamic Bhd, Jalan Maarof Bangsar Baru, Affin Bank at Jalan Raja Chulan, Affin Bank in Pusat Bandar Puchong and Kampung Attap between September 6, 2010 to April 10, 2018.

Abdul Azeez was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and Section 28(1)(c) of the same act punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe.

For the charge of money laundering, the accused is charged in accordance with Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 which is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act.

The trial of the case began on August 19, 2020 with seven prosecution witnesses called to testify.

-- BERNAMA