Prosecutors are finalizing their case against the former Labuan MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Prosecutors dropped their case after calling 24 witnesses in the corruption trial of former Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli (Picture)who is accused of using his position to get an employment contract for Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn (LLPM).

Deputy Prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi, who led the prosecution team, informed the Court of Justice Judge Rozina Ayob that Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Mohd Ahyar Salleh Hudin, 40, was the prosecution’s last witness.

Rozina directed both parties to file written submissions on or before April 4, with final resolution of the submissions on April 6, and will set a further date for a decision on whether to summon Rozman to his defense.

At today’s trial, Rozman was represented by attorney Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.

Among the prosecution witnesses called to testify since August 11 last year were former Labuan Port Authority (LPL) board member Zulkurnain Ayub; Datuk Chua Kok Ching, former Deputy Secretary-General (Management) of the Ministry of Transport, and Hida Jerman, Secretary of the Labuan Port Authority (LPL) Development and Investment Committee.

Rozman, 59, a public body official, vice chairman of the Labuan Port Authority, is accused of using his position to obtain a reward, namely an employment contract as an operator of Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan for LLPM, in which his father and younger brother have interest.

The offense was allegedly committed between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on March 21, 2018 at TKSU Briefing Room, Level 9, Ministry of Transport, Jalan Tun Hussein, District 4, Putrajaya.

He is charged under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act and may 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, as the case may be , whichever is greater, in the event of a conviction. –Bernama