[UPDATED] Court postpones verdict for Azeez’s appeal to strike charges for the fourth time

KUALA LUMPUR – The appellate court’s decision on Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim’s appeal to strike out 13 corruption and money laundering charges has been postponed to September 5.

The Court of Appeal was told that deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim has tested positive for Covid-19 while fellow DPP Aslinda Ahad is in Melaka receiving an award from the governor, reported Astro Awani.

As for Azeez, he is admitted to the University Malaya Medical Centre for acute gastroenteritis as he has had stomach pain since around 2am.

Meanwhile, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said was quoted as saying that the three-person bench is ready to deliver its judgement today.

He also reprimanded Azeez’s lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, reminding him that while the appellant has rights, he should not abuse the process.

Amer Hamzah tried to explain that the defence team is still waiting for a reply from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on Azeez’s representation letter.

The proceedings were allowed to be postponed to September 5. Today’s postponement is the fourth for this case.

The appellate court was scheduled to deliver its decision on former Tabung Haji chairman Azeez’s bid to strike out 13 corruption and money laundering charges.

Proceedings were postponed earlier following a reply received from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) on June 27 relating to Azeez’s representation letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

According to MACC, it was looking into new leads, and it was set to brief the AGC on the new development.

Azeez, 55, is appealing against the high court’s decision on March 12 last year, which dismissed his application to strike out three corruption charges involving RM5.2 million in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah, and 10 money laundering charges involving RM13.9 million, which he allegedly received from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

For the three corruption charges, he was alleged to have committed the offences at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur on December 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.

On the money laundering charges, Azeez was charged with committing the offences in Klang Valley between March 8, 2010, and August 30, 2018. – The Vibes, August 26, 2022