Start of Abdul Azeez trial delayed as Baling MP allowed to attend Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): The start of former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and his brother Datuk Abdul Latif Abdul Rahim’s corruption and money laundering cases were postponed today as Abdul Azeez had made an application with the Sessions Court here to attend Parliament.

Abdul Azeez, who is the Baling Member of Parliament (MP), made the application through his lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.

Hisyam told Judge Azura Alwi that it is compulsory for Abdul Azeez to attend today’s Parliament session for the second reading of the Temporary Measures for Reducing The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Bill 2020.

“As a government lawmaker, it is compulsory for my client to attend today’s second reading in Parliament which begins at 11.30am,” Hisyam told the judge this morning.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Aslinda Ahad did not have any objection to the application by the defence.

The trial, which was supposed to begin at 9am, was delayed before the application to postpone it was made as the lawyer conferred with the judge in her chambers before coming out to make the application.

Another lawyer of Abdul Azeez, M Athimulan, told the judge that they were ready to start the trial and had nine witnesses at the ready.

Judge Azura then allowed the application and vacated today’s proceedings. She ordered that proceedings start tomorrow at 9am at which point the first witness will take the stand.

On May 18, Judge Azura set 21 days for the trial — Aug 18 and 19; Sept 7 to 11; Oct 9, 16, 23 and 30; and Dec 7 to 18.

Abdul Azeez is facing three counts of bribery involving RM5.2 million linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah, and nine counts of money laundering involving nearly RM140 million, while his brother is charged with abetting him.

The corruption charges are framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while the money laundering charges were made under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

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