By Dawn Chan | New Straits Times
Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is set to testify as the 11th prosecution witness in the trial involving former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa project.
He is expected to take the stand on July 6 when the trial resumes before High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
The development follows deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin informing the court that Tengku Zafrul would be called as the next witness after Companies Commission assistant registrar R. Harshini completed her testimony today.
Tengku Zafrul is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s senior political adviser.
The judge directed the prosecution to hand over Tengku Zafrul’s witness statement to Muhyiddin’s legal team before June 20.
Muhyiddin is accused of four counts of abuse of power involving RM225.3 million in alleged gratification for Bersatu, as well as three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million.
The 79-year-old Pagoh member of parliament and Bersatu president, dressed in a dark red blazer, appeared calm in the dock during the proceedings.
He is represented by lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.
Outside the courtroom, Wan Shaharuddin said Tengku Zafrul is a key witness in the case and had been duly served with the relevant court documents requiring his attendance.
The prosecutor said Tengku Zafrul’s testimony could span several days.
Earlier, Noor Ruwena criticised the prosecution’s request to vacate tomorrow’s hearing after informing the court that a witness from the Public Works Department scheduled to testify would be unavailable due to Hari Raya Aidiladha.
She said the court had previously set aside both today and tomorrow for the trial, and vacating tomorrow’s proceedings would amount to a waste of judicial time.
The court, she said, could instead have prioritised drug trafficking or murder cases involving accused persons who had been in custody for years.
She reminded both parties to prioritise the matter, stressing that they were the ones who had requested the case be heard at the High Court.
“This is a high-profile case and the public is watching. I am sure Tan Sri also wants the matter to be resolved quickly, otherwise his movements will remain restricted.
“I hope the prosecution’s case can conclude on Sept 14 before parties file their submissions,” she said.
The trial will resume on July 6 to 17; July 27 to 29; Aug 17 to 21; 26 and 27; and Sept 1, 2, 3 and 14.
