By Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid | Malaysiakini
Former Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim still needs to face a corruption case linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning dismissed an application by the Baling MP to quash the three corruption charges and 10 money laundering counts against him.
Today was set for the High Court decision on the Umno lawmaker’s striking-out application, over grounds that the charges were groundless, defective, and done in bad faith.
Abdul Azeez (above), 54, was charged with three counts of accepting bribes totalling RM5.2 million in connection to the infrastructure projects, as well as 10 counts of money laundering.
The accused’s brother, Abdul Latif Abdul Rahim, is set to testify against him during the trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
During open court proceedings, judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that the accused failed to show proof that the charges were groundless, defective or done in bad faith by the prosecution.
“For me, this case is not a suitable one for this court to exercise its inherent power to quash the charges against the applicant (Azeez) and acquit the applicant.
“The applicant failed to show the charges were mala fide and an abuse of court process. The application is dismissed,” the judge ruled as Azeez looked on.
The accused’s counsel, Amer Hamzah Arshad, then informed the court that they would be filing an appeal against the decision.
The prosecution was led by DPP Aslinda Ahad.
According to the online cause, Azeez’ case is fixed before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
He is accused of committing the graft offences at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur, on Dec 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Pusat Bandar Puchong in Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.
Azeez is also alleged to have committed the money laundering offences in the Klang Valley area between March 8, 2010, and Aug 30, 2018.
