Rosli Dahlan’s Trial: Day 2

Din Merican 

Lawyer Rosli Dahlan was only a witness and not a suspect in a 2007 Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigation involving a former senior policeman, the Sessions Court was told today.

Deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais is the prosecution’s second witness to take the oath in the ongoing trial of the 48-year-old lawyer who has been linked to former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Ramli Yusuf’s corruption case.

Rosli’s lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran had yesterday challenged the prosecution to show “reasonable grounds” for the charge against Rosli, who was Ramli’s lawyer. Under questioning from the prosecution’s Zulqarnain Hassan, Morais told the court that he had received information which led him to believe that Ramli was on the take.

Morais said a person named “Moi Sai Chin” had allegedly bribed several people, including Ramli, to protect his illegal businesses from being raided by the police.

“I also referred to a bank statement supplied that showed Moi Sai Chin had presented RM20,000 in cash every month from 1999 to 2002 to strengthen his statement that the bribe money was actually received,” Morais said.He added that “Moi Sai Chin” was also the complainant in Ramli’s corruption case.

Morais explained that Rosli, who had a close relationship with the cop, would be able to provide evidence to successfully prosecute Ramli.

Zulqarnain: “What considerations did you find that Encik Rosli could help in the investigations?”

Morais: “I had based it on the investigations conducted on Ramli Yusuff’s property and, at the time in context of the investigation papers, had seen Rosli Dahlan’s role in those properties.

Not only that but the relationship with Datuk Ramli Yusuff since university and also as a lawyer in Datuk Ramli’s private case in the Syariah Court. And also Rosli Dahlan’s role in a company called Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd where Datuk Ramli held an interest.

“I also found from investigations that the company secretary from Bonus Circle at that time was interviewed and found through her speech that there were instructions from Bonus Circle which had at times been issued by Rosli Dahlan.

“Your Honour, I also found from investigations presented to me a sales and-purchase agreement for a house belonging to Rosli Dahlan sold to Datuk Ramli Yusuff.

“I also found Rosli Dahlan had acted as a lawyer for Bonus Circle to purchase a property in Megan Philio Avenue for Bonus Circle where Datuk Ramli had an interest.

“There was also testimony about a property in Danga Bay, Johor Baru where Bonus Circle had bought and where, once again, Datuk Ramli had an interest.”