Labuan MP charged with abuse of power over employment contract

Labuan MP Rozman Isli was charged in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today with abuse of power over an employment contract three years ago.

Rozman, 57, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Rozina Ayob.

According to the charge, Rozman as an officer of a government agency or deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority, had used his position to solicit bribes for an employment contract as the operator of Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan for Syarikat Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd in which his father and younger brother have an interest.

The offence was allegedly committed at the TKSU meeting room, Level 9 of the transport ministry in Jalan Tun Hussein, Precinct 4, Putrajaya, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.

The charge, framed under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act, provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

As soon as the charge was read out, Rozman said, “I am innocent and wish to claim trial to the charge.”

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court that the prosecution and counsel representing the accused Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali had agreed for bail to be set at RM100,000 with one surety.

Rozina then allowed the accused bail of RM100,000 with one surety and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of the case.

When allowing the accused bail, Rozina said the bailor should be someone who lives in the peninsula.

“We are afraid that difficulties might arise or a movement control order is implemented or anything happens there (Labuan)… as such, the court wants a bailor who resides in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor,” said the judge.

The court set Nov 19 for remention of the case.