Is It Just A Coincidence For Accused In High Profile Cases To Show Up In Court Being Wheelchair Bound

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Letter To Editor
WHENEVER a VVIP is indicted in a high-profile financial scandal these days, you can almost bet your bottom ringgit that the titled individuals will suddenly turn up for trial in a wheelchair (or even electronic wheelchair).
These money men who bestrode the fields of finance and politics like colossus are suddenly transformed into meek shadows of their former selves.
The latest involves Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed, 74, who was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday (Sept 8) with four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM313 mil and 13 counts of money laundering totalling RM139 mil.

All the charges involved are related to the proposed construction project of the Putrajaya to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Expressway (MEX II) starting from the Putrajaya Interchange and ending at KLIA on behalf of Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The court granted him bail of RM1.5 mil with one surety for all charges and ordered him to surrender his passport until the conclusion of the case. The court has set Nov 3 for the case mention.
The four charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries an imprisonment term of between two and 20 years, and is liable to the possibility of caning and a fine upon conviction.
Abu Sahid who was allowed to remain outside the dock in a wheelchair due to health problems pleaded not guilty and requested to be tried on all charges which were read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.
‘Scripted perception’
This trend was spotted by lawyer and human rights activist Siti Kasim who remarked on Facebook (FB) quite sarcastically with a one-liner – “Of course he will be on a wheelchair … ”.

The perception that is being painted is how could such frail, elderly men come up with such conniving and cunning financial misdeeds?
Sort of like a rapist appearing in court donning a kopiah (skull cap) as if he has repented or is in the midst of seeking forgiveness for his past sin from the Almighty.
This in no way to cast aspersions on Abu Sahid or any other senior citizen accused of serious financial wrongdoings and is in poor health.
But all too often, the trials here resemble scenes out of some Hollywood mafia film where evil, murderous dons when faced with the full brunt of the law, appear in court needing breathing apparatus, walking frames and – yes – wheelchairs.
How could such feeble, befuddled old men be capable of such crimes? It all seems so scripted.
In fact, the many comments on Siti Kassim’s FB post also signal that the Malaysian public has wised up to the game.

Some could even guess what comes next – the ailment gets progressively worse requiring umpteen delays in the trial but eventually the accused goes Scot-free with a DNAA (dismissal not amounting to acquittal).

Some friends of mine had even sarcastically opined that there is now a special package at a private hospital for the scandal-stricken VVIPs.
They mockingly concluded that for RM20,000, there is a three-night pre-court appearance package which includes wheelchair, attendant and pre-approved press release, plus a photo of the suitably ill-looking VVIP patient in the ward.
If indeed the patient is required to make an appearance in the dock, an oxygen mask designed to make the defendant look even more terminal will also be provided.
One has to forgive the public for being slightly sceptical. Such sentiment is possibly indicative of waning public confidence in the judicial system with numerous DNAAs and NFA (no further action) outcomes.
At any rate, kudos to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for expediting the latest case.

 
Cynical Man
Petaling Jaya
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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