Norza walks free of graft charges after witnesses turn uncooperative

TEMERLOH: The Sessions Court here Thursday acquitted and discharged former Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria and his agent, Halimi Kamaruzzaman, for corruption.

Judge Azuar Che Yusof made the decision after head of the prosecution unit of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa told the court that they would not be adducing further evidence after their witnesses turned hostile.

Earlier, Abdul Razak submitted that it was the prosecution’s hope that the witnesses would speak the truth to uphold justice.

Without reliable evidence, efforts to eliminate corruption and abuse would not be successful, he added.

Lawyer Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, who represented Halimi, then requested the court to use its discretion to acquit and discharge the accused according to section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He said the prosecution had been given the opportunity to call 18 witnesses to testify in the hearing which had taken a long time.

Mohamad Norza, 43, who was also a former Umno supreme council member, was charged with giving a RM1,500 bribe to Khadri Musa, through Halimi, to be distributed to the Umno delegates as an inducement to vote for him for a supreme council seat at the Umno general assembly last year.

He was also charged with giving a RM1,900 bribe to Mohammad Anuar Yunus, through Halimi, for the same purpose.

Both offences were allegedly committed at No. 38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh here at 6.30pm on Jan 20 last year.

Halimi, 47, of Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, faces two counts of giving bribes to Khadri and Mohammad Anuar on behalf of Mohamad Norza at the same place and time.

Since the case was heard in March last year, nine of the prosecution witnesses had been charged in the Temerloh Magistrate’s Court with giving false evidence.

Mohamad Norza, when met outside the court, said he hoped that with the case settled, it would end the speculation on his credibility. Bernama

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