By Ho Kit Yen | Free Malaysia Today
The High Court here today granted former Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim a full acquittal in his corruption case.
Judicial Commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid allowed Azeez’s application to vary the sessions court order from a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) to a full acquittal, after Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim did not raise any objection.
“The accused is now acquitted and discharged,” Azhar said.
In September, the Sessions Court had granted Azeez a DNAA in the case in which he was charged in 2019 with accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 million in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah.
The order was issued after prosecutors told the court they needed to review their investigation after “new leads” were received in the case.
Azeez was also slapped with 10 counts of money laundering involving RM13.9 million over funds from a company, Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.
However, four of the 10 money laundering charges amounting to RM12.9 million were quashed by the Court of Appeal in August.
Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, who represented Azeez today, told the court the investigation against the former Tabung Haji Chairman had been completed and assets seized from him during the investigation had been returned.
“It is only fair for an order of acquittal and discharge be given to my client,” he said.
With today’s court order, the prosecution cannot reinstate charges or bring new ones against Azeez based on the same facts.
