Norza walks free of graft charges after witnesses turn uncooperative

(The Star) – The Sessions Court here discharged Former Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria of two corruption charges brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

He was freed due to eight witnesses who were “uncooperative”.

Those witnesses had been charged with giving false evidence during the trial of Norza and his agent Halimi Kamaruzzaman.

Their testimonies were alleged to be not consistent with the statements given to Pahang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers at the MACC’s Temerloh office on Jan 20, 21 and 22 last year.

They are contractor, Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus, 43, school teacher, Jalaluddin Johan, 55, and Pahang Special Affairs Department (JASA) information assistant, Mohd Sabri Aziz, 45, who were charged in June.

In May, Pahang JASA director Yusof Jamaluddin, 53, two businessmen Nasaruddin Abdullah, 47, and Datuk Khadri Musa, 47, Maran JASA information assistant Nor Azhar Abdul Latif, 48, and Prime Minister’s Department Felda Public Relations Unit officer Saiful Azman Mokhtar Affendi, 46, had been charged for the same offence.

The three, however, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Ida Rahayu Sharif.

Jalaluddin’s case was fixed for mention on Nov 24, while that of Mohammad Anuar and Mohd Sabri on Nov 29 and 30 simultaneously.

Jalaluddin and Mohd Sabri are charged with giving false evidence at the corruption trial in the Temerloh Sessions Court on May 13, while Mohammad Anuar was charged of committing the same offence on May 12.

Their testimonies were alleged to be not consistent with the statements given to Pahang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers at the MACC’s Temerloh office on Jan 20, 21 and 22 last year.