KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court here will tomorrow decide whether former Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli will be called to enter his defence or be acquitted on a charge of using his position to obtain an employment contract for Labuan Liberty Port Management (LLPM) Sdn Bhd.
Judge Rozina Ayob is scheduled to announce her decision at 3pm.
If the court’s decision is in favour of the prosecution, that there is a prima facie case against Rozman, 59, he will be called to defend himself, otherwise he will be acquitted and discharged.
On March 6, the prosecution closed its case after calling 24 witnesses to testify in the trial which began on August 11 last year.
Among the prosecution witnesses called were former Labuan Port Authority (LPL) board member Zulkurnain Ayub, former Transport Ministry deputy secretary-general for management Datuk Chua Kok Ching, and LPL’s development and investment committee secretary Hida Jerman.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi prosecuted while counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali represented Rozman.
Rozman was charged as an official of a public body – as deputy chair of the Labuan Port Authority – to have used his position to obtain gratification, namely an employment contract as the operator for Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan, for LLPM, in which his father and younger brother have an interest.
The offence was allegedly committed at the TKSU Meeting Room, Level 9, Ministry of Transport Malaysia, Jalan Tun Hussein, Precinct 4, Putrajaya between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.
He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted. – Bernama, May 29, 2023
