By Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid | Malaysiakini
Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim will know next week whether he succeeds in his appeal to strike out the corruption and money laundering case against him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim today told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court that the Court of Appeal has set July 1 to decide on the appeal by the accused.
“Regarding the application (by Azeez) before the Court of Appeal to strike out the charges, the date of decision has been fixed on July 1,” the prosecutor told lower court judge Azura Alwi.
Former Tabung Haji Chairperson Azeez (above) is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision on March 12 last year, which rejected his application to quash three corruption and 10 money laundering charges.
While appealing, the main case is still pending before the Sessions Court.
During open-court proceedings this morning, the accused’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad confirmed the Court of Appeal has fixed July 1 to deliver the decision on his client’s appeal.
Azura then fixed Aug 30 for mention of the main case.
Previously, the Appellate Court set March 21 to deliver its decision on Azeez’s appeal. However, the decision on that date was postponed.
Azeez is facing three counts of accepting bribes of RM5.2 million in relation to road projects in Kedah and Perak.
He also faces 10 counts of money laundering involving RM13.9 million, which he purportedly received from Menuju Asas.
The graft offences were allegedly perpetrated at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.
In relation to the money laundering charges, Azeez was alleged to have committed the offences in the Klang Valley area, between March 8, 2010, and Aug 30, 2018.
Azeez’s brother Abdul Latif was initially charged with abetting him on two counts of obtaining an RM4 million bribe, as gratification for aiding Menuju Asas to secure road projects via a limited tender from the Works Ministry.
However, following an application by the prosecution on Feb 8, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted Latif a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
Latif then appealed to the High Court, which on Jan 19 this year allowed his appeal and converted the DNAA to a full acquittal.
Under the law, an accused granted a DNAA may still be charged with the same charge in future if the prosecution wishes to do so.
