By Faisal Asyraf | Malaysiakini
Former Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has applied to get his passport released, citing the need to continue his medical treatment overseas.
His counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad (photo, right) told the media that the Sungai Sibuga assemblyperson has to resume medical care which he had sought in London as well as in Singapore before he returned to Malaysia to facilitate investigation into his case.
The application was made before judge Rozina Ayob at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.
“The court will make a decision on Monday,” Amer said when met at the court lobby.
Musa returned to Malaysia in August, which his political secretary Joh Wid claimed was against the doctor’s advice.
In November, he claimed trial to 35 charges for receiving a total of US$63,293,924.88 million in bribes in exchange for logging contracts.
At today’s exchange rate, the sum is equivalent to approximately RM263 million. The alleged offences took place in Hong Kong and Singapore, through proxies, between 2004 and 2008.
“Now is the right time for him to resume his medical care in London after it was halted because the authorities were looking for him.
“Now that he has been finally charged, we made application for him to continue his treatment (in London),” Amer said, adding that Musa has an undisclosed medical condition.
‘Allegations baseless’
Amer said that there were objections by the prosecution team due to the fear that Musa would tamper witnesses as well as be a flight-risk.
“However, we told (them) that their allegations were baseless as they are not supported by any evidence that he would tamper witnesses.
“He’s not a flight-risk as we had shown to the court that Musa himself was the one who was willing to return to the country to facilitate investigation. We have confirmation from the doctor that he wanted to return.
“Upon his arrival, our side had contacted the police and the MACC. So he had given his cooperation throughout the time. There’s no issue that he wants to flee or tamper witnesses,” Amer said.
He added that the medical reports from the hospitals in London and Singapore had been produced in the court.
“These are from the doctor who has been treating him for the past 30 years.”
Amer said that another reason that Musa is not a flight-risk is that he has another case at the Kota Kinabalu High Court where there’s a pending application in regard to his status as the Chief Minister.
“So there’s no reason that he would flee,” he said.
Earlier, reporters were trying to get Musa to comment on the whereabouts of his son, the Sipitang MP Yamani Hafez, whose whereabouts are unknown and has yet to take his oath of office.
However, Musa was tight-lipped as he walked towards his car.
