KUALA LUMPUR: A key witness in the graft trial of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has admitted to the High Court that he testified in the trial to 'save himself' from prosecution.
KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd director Datuk Seri Azman Yusoff, 54, made the admission during cross-examination by defence lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik here on Thursday (Aug 27).
During earlier proceedings, Nepturis Sdn Bhd founder Lian Tan Chuan, or known as TC Lian, testified that Azman had asked him to contribute to Muhyiddin's political party, Bersatu.
Lian stated that he contributed RM1mil to Bersatu after Nepturis was awarded the RM141mil contract to build the Klang Utara police headquarters.
Hisyam: Lian came to court and testified under oath that he made the RM1mil payment because you are the Bumiputera Contractors Association of Malaysia president.
Azman: I don't know.
Hisyam: I put it to you, your motive to come to this court as a witness for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was to save yourself from prosecution.
Azman: I am not sure.
At this juncture, High Court judge Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nordin intervened and repeated the question to the witness.
"(The lawyer suggested) You came to this court as a witness to save yourself from being prosecuted. Do you agree or not?" she said.
"Agreed," Azman said.
Hisyam also suggested that Azman had 'sold' Muhyiddin's name in his attempt to convince contractors but the witness disagreed.
Hisyam: Did you receive bribe money from contractors? Do you agree or not?
Azman: I receive contributions from contractors.
Hisyam: I put it to you, the contributions you mention were actually bribes.
Azman: I disagree.
Hisyam: I put it to you, you committed an offence and could have been charged under Section 16 or Section 17 of the MACC Act.
Before the witness could answer, Justice Noor Ruwena told Hisyam that he should explain to the witness what the two law provisions were about.
Hisyam said the law provisions were on accepting and soliciting bribes and asked the witness again whether he agreed or not to the suggestion.
"I am not sure," Azman said.
Earlier, Hisyam also posited that there was a 'live complaint' about Azman to the MACC, where it was alleged that Azman had taken bribes.
The witness agreed that the complaint was considered 'live' as he had not received the letter for no further action (NFA).
Muhyiddin, 79, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM225.3mil in relation to the Jana Wibawa Project from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd and Azman.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200mil that were deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.
The hearing continues on Sept 1.
