No miscarriage of justice in charges against ex-Tabung Haji chairman, appeals court told

There is no miscarriage of justice against former Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim in his corruption and money laundering cases, the Court of Appeal heard today.

Deputy public prosecutor Aslinda Ahad submitted that the prosecution would prove its case based on evidence.

“The prosecution will also ensure that a fair trial will be conducted against him,” she said.

Aslinda was submitting in the appeal brought by Azeez against the High Court’s dismissal of his application to strike out three counts of bribery charges involving RM5.2 million linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah and 10 money laundering charges involving a total of RM13.9 million which he was accused of receiving from Syarikat Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

Aslinda also said that the corruption and money laundering charges against Azeez were not defective.

She said there was no necessity to specify in the charge sheet the form of the unlawful activities which Azeez was accused of committing in respect to his money laundering charges.

She said the money laundering charges could stand on their own, adding that the prosecution, through the evidence of its witnesses, would explain the nature of the unlawful activities.

On the corruption charge against Azeez, she said there was no multiplicity or duplicity in the charge as the gratification he was accused of receiving was for four projects.

Meanwhile, Azeez’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad in his reply said his client was a victim of political prosecution and that the trial should not be allowed to proceed as it would cause him unjust suffering.

He said the particularisation of the ingredients of charges had not been fulfilled, adding that the court should not allow the charges to stand.

According to the charge sheet, Azeez, 55, is alleged to have committed the corruption offences at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017 and April 10, 2018.

On the money laundering charges, he was alleged to have committed the offences in the Klang Valley area between March 8, 2010 and Aug 30, 2018.

At the end of the appeal hearing, Amer Hamzah said he had received instruction from his client who wanted to seek permission from the court to personally say a few words.

However, justice Kamaludin Md Said said as far as the charges were concerned, Azeez was innocent until proven guilty, so there was nothing for him to say. He added that it was better for him to remain quiet at this point of time.

After the defence and the prosecution completed their submissions, Kamaludin, who sat with justices Abu Bakar Jais and Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, deferred the court’s decision to a date to be fixed.

The court had heard the appeal on Sept 6 and was fixed to continue the appeal hearing today.