Labuan Mp Goes To High Court To Quash Corruption Case

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Rozman Isli has filed a second bid to nullify his corruption charge linked to his time as Labuan Port Authority (LPA) deputy director five years ago.
The Labuan MP previously on April 4 failed to get the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to quash his graft case, alleging that the charge was meant to pressure him to ditch Sabah-based opposition party Warisan and join the state ruling party, Bersatu.
On May 11 before the Kuala Lumpur High Court, the former Umno lawmaker filed two bids - one to transfer the graft case to the High Court, the second is to quash the charge.
In a media statement issued today, the accused’s counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali confirmed the two filings.
“The second criminal application is to seek an order among others to set aside the charge against our client on grounds that it has no merit and is baseless, whether in fact or under the law,” the lawyer said.
Rafique added that following mention of the matter earlier today, the High Court has set May 26 for further case management of the applications.
On Oct 14 last year, before the Sessions Court, Rozman claimed trial to one graft charge, which accused him of using his then position as LPA deputy chairperson to obtain a government contract for a company in which his father and sibling allegedly have an interest in.
During a press conference held immediately after he was charged that day, the accused claimed that he was charged over his refusal to defect from Warisan and back the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
According to a copy of his affidavit in support of the striking-out bid, Rozman claimed that among those who tried to persuade him to leave Warisan was an MACC officer, an aide of then prime minister Muhyiddin Yasin, and a deputy minister.
He alleged that these formed part of widespread efforts to try to get his support since Feb 29, 2020, following the Sheraton Move that saw the fall of the Pakatan Harapan administration and to the PN government, then helmed by Bersatu president Muhyiddin. - Mkini

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