Rohaizat’s partner denies Umno’s accusation
(The Malaysian Insider) PERMATANG PASIR, Aug 20 — The controversy surrounding Barisan Nasional candidate Rohaizat Othman’s disbarment took a new twist today when his partner, the one Umno accused of taking their client's money, appeared to deny the allegation.
Yusri Ishak alleged that the money was used by Rohaizat to help his friend-cum-client finance a land transaction worth RM130,000 which was to be reimbursed but the Umno politician's friend had failed to do so.
Rohaizat then claimed the land, planning to sell it to remit the funds used to purchase it but to no avail, said Yusri, adding that that was one of the reasons why the disbarred lawyer had failed to repay the co-operative.
He also said some of the co-operative funds had been used to help another of Rohaizat's friend, a director in a housing development company, and also to manage the firm's branch in Ipoh.
The 38-year-old lost an appeal on Aug 12 against being struck off the rolls of the Malaysian Bar after he blamed his partner for the matter which the Bar Council said involved RM161,000 in client's money.
Umno has dismissed the issue, saying Rohaizat has paid back the money and it is not a criminal case, accusing the opposition of playing up the issue.
"What Umno and Barisan Nasional information chief Ahmad Maslan said (that I was the one who absconded with the money) is a lie," Yusri told a press conference here organised by PAS.
Officials from the Islamist party, which is contesting the seat, said they are giving Yusri a platform to explain himself.
Read more at: Rohaizat’s partner denies Umno’s accusation
