Court Roundup, Sarawak News - Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:00 - 0 Comments

Shukri’s letter confirmed no case against Norza: Witness

TEMERLOH: The Sessions Court here yesterday heard that a high ranking Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer had sent a letter to Umno stating that the commission had no case against Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria.Umno’s former executive secretary Brig Gen (Rtd) Datuk Husainy Hashim, the prosecution’s fifth witness in the corruption trial of the former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief and his agent Halimi Kamaruzzaman, said he had received the letter before handing it over to the management of Umno’s Supreme Council (MT).

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Saiful Edris countered saying Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the counsel for Mohamad Norza, had influenzed the witness to say this.

During re-examination, Saiful asked Husainy who had signed the letter as prior to this the witness had only said that there might be such a letter.

“Datuk Shukri (signed the letter), I cannot remember his full name, he is a high ranking MACC officer,” said Husainy, who was also unable to recollect the date of the letter.

Pressing further Saiful asked Husainy to remember who this “Shukri” was only to be interrupted by Muhammad Shafee asking: “How many Shukris are there in the MACC? (it was likely Muhammad Shafee was referring to MACC’s investigations director Datuk Shukri Abdul).

Husainy, 64, added that according to the letter, the MACC had asked Umno to conduct an internal probe into the case as the commission did not have a case against Mohamad Norza.

Earlier, during cross-examination, Husainy, who is also a member of Umno’s secretariat, had told Muhammad Shafee that the secretariat was informed by Umno’s disciplinary board that it had also found Mohamad Norza not guilty of the offence (money politics).

Saiful in re-examining him then said : “Datuk (Husainy), Disciplinary Board said not guilty, but this does necessarily mean the person is not guilty.”

“Is Datuk (Husainy) aware there are other agencies which can also conduct investigations?.

“I am aware,” said Husainy.

Yesterday’s hearing which began at 10.30am had to be adjourned earlier than usual because a power outage hit the court at 11.19am.

Initially it was continued till 1pm but because of the stifling conditions without any air-conditioning, Judge Azuar Che Yusof decided to adjourn the hearing.

Mohamad Norza, 43, who is also a former member of the MT, is accused of giving Khadri Musa a bribe of RM1,500 through Halimi to be distributed to the delegates as an inducement to vote for him for a seat in the Umno MT at the Umno general assembly in March.

He also faces another charge of giving a bribe of RM1,900 to Mohammad Anuar Yunus through Halimi for the same purpose.

Both offences were alleged to have been committed at 6.30pm on Jan 20 at No.

38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh, here.

Halimi, 47, from Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan is charged with two counts of bribing Khadri and Mohammad Anuar on behalf of Mohamad Norza at the same time, date and place.

The hearing continues on Feb 1. — Bernama