THE Court of Appeal today dismissed Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim’s four money laundering charges after the prosecution was unable to determine where the alleged crimes took place.
However, the three-member bench led by judge Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said upheld the other nine money laundering and corruption charges the UMNO lawmaker faces, with the trial to proceed back to the Sessions Court.
All three judges – including Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali – were unanimous in their decision.
The next case mention was set for Wednesday (Sept 7).
The appellate court also set aside the former Tabung Haji chairman’s appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision in March 2021 to disallow his application to strike out the charges.
Azeez originally faced three charges of receiving bribes worth RM5.2 mil in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah between 2017 and 2018, and 10 counts of money laundering involving a total of RM13.9 mil that he allegedly received from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd between 2010 and 2018.
Moving forward, he will still stand trial over the three bribery charges but only six of the money laundering charges.
The hearing of the Baling MP’s case began on August 19, 2020, in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, where seven prosecution witnesses were called to testify.
On March 12, the High Court allowed Azeez to adjourn the hearing of the Sessions Court case pending the outcome of his appeal in the Court of Appeal.
The appeal was a long-drawn one, spanning over one year. The verdict was expected to be delivered in March but the verdict was postponed to July, then Aug 26 and finally today. – Sept 5, 2022
Main pic credit: The Edge Markets
