FORMER Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim was granted a full acquittal from his corruption charges involving road projects in Kedah and Perak.
This was after High Court judicial commissioner Datuk Azahar Abdul Hamid had allowed Azeez’s notice of motion to get a full acquittal against his nine charges, which comprised three for corruption and six for money laundering.
On Sept 23, Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) against the UMNO Supreme Council member under Section 254 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code following a representation submitted by Abdul Azeez.
Abdul Azeez, 55, was represented by Amer Hamzah Arshad and Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim appeared for the prosecution.
Earlier, Amer said the defence had sent a notice of motion to the court for full acquittal and the prosecution did not object to the application.
Abdul Azeez was charged with three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 mil and six charges of money laundering worth RM972,414.60 in relation to road projects in Perak and Kedah.
The offences were allegedly committed at five banks in the federal capital between Sept 6, 2010, and April 10, 2018.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) and Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, if found guilty.
For the money laundering charges, they were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 which is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act.
The law provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of the illegal activity or RM5 mil, whichever is higher, if found guilty. – Dec 9, 2022
