Warisan Mp S Corruption Case To Remain At Sessions Court

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The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court will continue to hear the corruption case against Labuan MP Rozman Isli linked to his tenure as Labuan Port Authority (LPA) deputy director five years ago.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning denied the Warisan lawmaker’s application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that Rozman’s (above) graft case does not raise any unusual and extraordinary legal issues requiring the High Court to hear the matter.
He pointed out that the lower court is capable of deliberating and deciding on any legal issues that may crop up during Rozman’s trial.
The judge also disagreed with the applicant’s contention that his case needed to be heard before the High Court due to widespread media coverage of it.
“All accused must be treated equally (before the law) regardless of status. He (Rozman) being a politician must not be given special treatment,” Jamil ruled.
The Sessions Court two-day trial of Rozman’s case is set to begin Aug 11.
On Oct 14 last year, before the lower court, Rozman claimed trial for 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.
Refusal to defect
During a press conference after he was charged that day, the accused claimed he was charged over his refusal to defect from Warisan and back the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
This allegation became the basis for his first failed bid before the Sessions Court to strike out the criminal charge. He has since filed a second one before the High Court.
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 a MACC officer, an aide of then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and a deputy minister.
He alleged that they were 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 to the PN government, then helmed by Bersatu president Muhyiddin.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali represented Rozman, while deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi prosecuted during open-court proceedings today. - Mkini

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