By V. Anbalagan | Free Malaysia Today
The High Court here today acquitted former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of five counts of corruption amounting to US$12.8 million over transactions linked to timber concessions in the state
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the acquittal although deputy public prosecutor Umar Saifuddin Jaafar requested a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Sequerah said the reasons given by Umar were not convincing.
“The charges cannot continue to remain over his (Musa’s) head,” he added. “I order an acquittal.”
However, another 30 corruption charges remain intact despite amendments tabled by the prosecution.
Musa, who was allowed to sit in the dock due to health reasons, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read out by a court interpreter.
Musa was chief minister from 2003 until last year’s general election when Barisan Nasional lost the state government to Warisan, led by Shafie Apdal.
Musa, who is on RM2 million bail, was represented by Francis Ng, Amer Hamzah Arshad, Ragunath Kesavan and Joshua Tay.
