Perak graft trial: Witness could have mixed up names
(The Star) – The star witness in the corruption trial of two former PKR state executive councillors and four others admitted that he could have mixed up the names of the person who actually asked for a bribe.
Crossed-examined by Surjan Singh, businessman Mohamad Imran Abdullah did not discount the possibility that he might have mixed up the names of Usaili Alias and Ruslan Sahat.
Mohammad Imran told the Sessions Court here on Friday that he met Usaili, Ruslan, Zul Hassan and Fairul Azrim Ismail at Restaurant Salim in Seri Iskandar on Aug 10 2008 to discuss a project.
Surjan said, ”The restaurant’s signboard shows its Salam Corner but you saw it as Salim Corner.”
”So is it possible that it was Ruslan who asked for bribe but you mistook it for Usaili in your complain to the Anti-Corruption Agency?”
To this, Mohamad Imran, 34, replied in the affirmative.
As Mohamad Imran wanted to elaborate on his reply to Sessions judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh, Surjan said the witness should be quiet as he was in court to give evidence and not to prove the charge.
”The judge should shut him up as the Deputy Public Prosecutor can re-examine him later,” he said.
Mohamad Imran was testifying in the hearing of former PKR exco members Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, 57, and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52. Jointly charged with them are two former Perak Tengah district councillors Zul, 45, and Usaili, 56; businessman Fairul Azrim, 31; and Perak Development Corporation technician Ruslan (now deceased).
They are accused of helping Mohamad Imran obtain a multimillion-ringgit development project in Seri Iskandar.
During Friday’s proceedings, there were several occasions when Surjan accused Mohamad Imran of being “a compulsive liar.”
This led the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) prosecution unit, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, jumping to Mohamad Imran’s defence and urging the court to restrain Surjan.
An irate Surjan complained that he was being restrained from doing his duty.
Hearing continues next Monday.
