Published: Wednesday November 4, 2009 MYT 6:25:00 PM
Perak graft trial: Credibility of MACC witness questioned
By SYLVIA LOOI
IPOH: The credibility of a prosecution witness in a corruption trial came into question after he failed to answer several questions raised by a defence lawyer.
Lawyer Surjan Singh chided the witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant investigator Nor Azrin Desa, for his attitude and on several occasions warned him not to lie in court.
Turning to Sessions Court judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh, Surjan Singh alleged that the witness had been coached.
”He is taking the easy way out by saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to questions,” he fumed.
To this, judge Azhaniz Teh said, ”To be fair, the witness’s job is to note down all marked notes.”
Nor Azrin also denied a suggestion by Surjan Singh that he was hiding the facts as the arrest of the accused was a plan by the Barisan Nasional and the MACC had been roped in to ensure the plan was a success.
Nor Azrin was testifying in the hearing of former Perak executive councillors Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, 57, and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52 of PKR.
Jointly charged with them are two former Perak Tengah district councillors Zul Hassan, 45, and Usaili Alias, 56, businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail, 31 and Perak Development Corporation technician Ruslan Sahat (now deceased).
They are charged with helping businessman Mohamad Imran Abdullah obtain a multimillion-ringgit development project in Seri Iskandar.
Earlier, Surjan Singh questioned how Nor Azrin could produce sketch plans of where the marked notes were handed over a month later but he could not answer pertinent questions related to the case.
Nor Azrin testified that he had been to the locations where the money was allegedly handed over several times.
”I also noted on my draft copy of the sketch plan location of where the money was handed over,” he said.
He disagreed that Mohamad Imran was paid by the MACC to trap all the accused.
Nor Azrin also told the court that he was unaware if the marked notes that were given to Ruslan was for the services rendered to the MACC.
Hearing continues Thursday.
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