KUALA LUMPUR – One of the prosecution witnesses in Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s graft trial has admitted that he was testifying out of fear of being “charged over other cases” by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
MalaysiaKini reported that during his turn on the witness bench, 29-year-old Bersatu Youth (Armada) member Abdul Hannaan Khairy caved under the relentless pressure applied on him by the Muar MP’s defence lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo.
The defence had asked Hannaan about the number of times that he was called to the MACC office to give his statement regarding the case.
The witness was unable to furnish the exact number but said it was “many times” and that he felt “scared”.
“Scared why? Was it because the MACC also asked you about other cases? Is this correct?” Gobind asked, to which Hannaan replied that he was “not sure”.
The lawyer then told him to think carefully if he was frightened that the commission would ask him about other cases and Hannaan answered “yes”.
Pushing forward with his offensive, the legal eagle then asked: “So, you are willing to give this testimony (against Syed Saddiq) so you will not be charged for other cases?”
At first, Hannaan denied that it was true and tried to deflect the question when being pressed, requesting for a “toilet break” from judge Azhar Abdul Hamid.
However, he was told to answer the question, to which Hannaan answered “yes”.
Gobind then requested that the witness would not be spoken to during his bathroom break. – The Vibes, July 4, 2022
