Former Exco to enter defence on corruption charge

(The Star) – Former Selangor Exco member Datuk Mohd Shariff Jajang has been ordered to enter his defence on a charge of corruption.

Sessions Court judge Yong Zarida Sazali ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against Mohd Shariff, 67.

He is facing a charge of using his official position to approve a temporary land occupation license application for a 1.21 hectares plot in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang for Institut Kemahiran Memandu Sepang Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Konsortium Sepang Berhad (KSB).

Mohd Shariff, his wife Datin Patimah Isa and his sons Shahrum and Shahrin had a 1.36% share in KSB.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Sepang district land office on June 16, 1997 while he was still the Dengkil assemblyman and a Sepang district land committee member.

If convicted, Mohd Shariff could be jailed up to 14 years or fined RM20,000, or both.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutors Zulqarnain Hassan and Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad Kassim called 32 witnesses during the prosecution stage which began in 2004.

Yong Zarida fixed April 4, 6, 7 and 8 to hear the defence’s case.

Mohd Shariff was represented by Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Amy Chong Boon Chin and Badrul Munir Bukhari.