KUALA LUMPUR: The corruption investigation against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) was not done with an intention to “persecute” the Pagoh MP, an investigating officer said.
Mazery Mohd Zaini, 42, an officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), also said that no “special treatment” was given to key prosecution witnesses.
The officer made the denials during cross-examination by Muhyiddin’s lawyer, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, yesterday at the High Court in the case related to the Jana Wibawa programme.
Mazery was asked about key prosecution witness, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd director Datuk Azman Yusoff, whose name also came up in Muhyiddin’s charges.
The defence posited that Azman was a witness in the MACC’s “grasp”.
Hisyam: I put it to you; he (Azman) was given a special treatment because there was a deal. A “handshake” between the MACC and Azman. Give the testimony, and we (MACC) will give you immunity... protection. Do you agree or not?
Mazery: I disagree.
On Aug 27, Azman made a shocking admission in court that he testified to “save himself” from prosecution.
Earlier, Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin had allowed the defence’s application to recall three prosecution witnesses who had been released from testifying.
The defence wanted to recall Azman, Mamfor Sdn Bhd managing director Shahradzi Shamsuddin and Nepturis Sdn Bhd founder Lian Tan Chuan, better known as TC Lian.
Justice Noor Ruwena allowed the application on the condition that the line of questioning must focus on contributions to Bersatu and be linked to businessman Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad, a cousin of Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan.
When making the application, defence lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad argued that the defence strategy was “compromised” when the prosecution decided not to call Adam Radlan to the stand.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the witnesses had been asked specific questions about Adam Radlan when they were on the stand.
“This excuse of Adam Radlan not being called should not be entertained,” he said.
Muhyiddin, 79, is 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 Datuk Azman Yusoff.
He also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200mil which were deposited into Bersatu’s bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.
The hearing continues today.
