By Dawn Chan | New Straits Times
The lawyer for Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin today questioned whether investigations in the case had been completed, noting that several individuals linked to the matter were still being called to record statements despite his client having been charged last year.
Lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad raised the issue when the case came up for mention before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin, in the presence of prosecutors from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“I want certainty on whether investigations against my client have been completed or otherwise.
“This is because between the last proceedings date and today, I understand there are still investigations ongoing.
“If investigations are ongoing, it is unfair that the charges continue against my client,” he said.
Shamsul Iskandar, 52, who was the senior political secretary to the prime minister, appeared calm in the dock during the proceedings.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan replied that there was no legal provision preventing further investigations after a person has been charged.
“I do not think there is any law that stops us from doing so, even though the accused had already been charged.
“There is no issue of injustice arising,” she said.
After the proceedings, Amer Hamzah said the defence had learned that certain individuals were recently called to record their statements.
“So we were wondering whether investigations had been fully completed or otherwise.
“Ideally, one should be charged only after investigations are completed.
“But let’s be positive. Hopefully, with these further investigations, maybe datuk seri will be exonerated, and there is a clear finding that he is not guilty at all,” he said.
Earlier, Farah Ezlin, who appeared with co-deputy public prosecutor Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar, told the court that the prosecution had handed over several documents and requested time to serve the remaining ones.
She also said the prosecution objected to the defence’s application to transfer the case to the High Court.
Amer Hamzah confirmed receiving the documents, which included statements, invoices, images and his client’s charge sheets.
He added that the defence’s application to transfer the case to the High Court, filed on Feb 4, will be heard on April 9.
Judge Suzana then fixed May 8 for mention pending further document submissions.
Also on the defence team were Joshua Tay and Yusmadi Yusoff.
On Dec 4 last year, Shamsul Iskandar pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to four charges of receiving RM140,000 in cash as well as furniture and electrical goods worth RM36,829.03 from businessman Albert Tei between Nov 24, 2023 and March 5, 2024.
The gratification was allegedly intended to help companies linked to Tei obtain mineral exploration licences in Sabah, although the matter was not related to Shamsul Iskandar’s official duties as an aide to the prime minister.
On Dec 5, he faced a separate charge at the Shah Alam Sessions Court of soliciting a RM64,924 bribe from Tei in 2023 and 2024 to cover the rental of a house on Jalan Medang Serai in Bukit Bandaraya here.
The Shah Alam case was later transferred to Kuala Lumpur and ordered to be tried together with the earlier charges.
All five charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Tei has also pleaded not guilty to all charges.
