‘Political interests’ led to charges against ex-Felda director, says MACC adviser
Abu Zahar Ujang (left) says the case against Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashi was not probed properly in the first place.
PETALING JAYA: Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashi would not have been slapped with the 29 corruption charges that were later withdrawn if the case had been probed properly in the first place, according to the chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) advisory board.
Pointing out that the charges were made in 2019, board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang said the MACC’s priority at that point in time was not on carrying out an actual probe and conducting it professionally.
Instead, he claimed, the anti-graft agency was more concerned about “political interests”, adding that he had to speak up now to set the record straight.
”A probe has to be very thorough. When the MACC investigates something, the standard of proof must be very high. But at that point in time, things got politicised to a great extent.
“This is not right. So it has to be put correctly, otherwise the implications are a real burden to the present administration of the MACC.
“If the case had been investigated properly and professionally with no stone left unturned, this thing would not have happened. He shouldn’t have been charged in the first place,” Abu Zahar told FMT.
He added that “improper investigations and charges in the case” previously led to certain revelations now.
“So, when they reviewed the case, they found that he should not have been charged in the first place.”
Ehsanuddin’s trial started in August 2019, when Latheefa Koya was the MACC chief. She resigned from the post following the change of government in March last year.
PETALING JAYA: Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashi would not have been slapped with the 29 corruption charges that were later withdrawn if the case had been probed properly in the first place, according to the chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) advisory board.
Pointing out that the charges were made in 2019, board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang said the MACC’s priority at that point in time was not on carrying out an actual probe and conducting it professionally.
Instead, he claimed, the anti-graft agency was more concerned about “political interests”, adding that he had to speak up now to set the record straight.
”A probe has to be very thorough. When the MACC investigates something, the standard of proof must be very high. But at that point in time, things got politicised to a great extent.
“This is not right. So it has to be put correctly, otherwise the implications are a real burden to the present administration of the MACC.
“If the case had been investigated properly and professionally with no stone left unturned, this thing would not have happened. He shouldn’t have been charged in the first place,” Abu Zahar told FMT.
He added that “improper investigations and charges in the case” previously led to certain revelations now.
“So, when they reviewed the case, they found that he should not have been charged in the first place.”
Ehsanuddin’s trial started in August 2019, when Latheefa Koya was the MACC chief. She resigned from the post following the change of government in March last year.
From Wikipedia:
| Born | Latheefa Beebi Koya 4 February 1973 Kerala, India |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
FMT is attempting to get Latheefa’s comment on the matter.
Abu Zahar, a former Dewan Negara president, was appointed to the MACC advisory board in June last year along with former inspector-general of police Ismail Omar and former Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Akhbar Satar.
Saying that no one should interfere with MACC matters as it was supposed to be an independent body, he said he was prepared to confront the prime minister if the need ever arose.
“The MACC should not be politicised. Nobody, including the prime minister, should interfere with what the MACC does.”
Abu Zahar said that current MACC chief Azam Baki had spoken to him after the 29 charges against Ehsanuddin were withdrawn, prompting raised eyebrows and questions from groups such as TI-M.
While maintaining that he was not siding with the MACC chief, he said he could “imagine the predicament Azam was facing”.
He said he did not believe the current government had interfered in Ehsanuddin’s case, adding that was what Azam had told him.
“But that’s what I want to clarify. If there is any sort of interference, I for one will object to it.”
For the record ,Abu Zahar Ujang is an UMNO politician, former Senator and Dewan Negara President. And definitely not an independent commentator.
ReplyDeleteWhat has Latheefa Koya's birthplace in India have to do with the facts of the case ?
Ktemoc is just as racist against Indians, as those who were prejudiced against a previous generation of Chinese Malaysian Citizens who were born in China.
Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashi wasn't found innocent through a trial
ReplyDelete.
The MACC simply withdrew the case, in an act that stinks to Hell.
The pretext was that the accused had "returned the money", so the prosecution considered it an "advance", not Corrruptly given bribes.
Bullshit.
UMNO is corrupt, dulu, sekarang Dan selamanya.
In Malaysia, UMNO in cahoots with the UMNO-ised MACC has established 2 legal ways to obtain corrupt funds.
ReplyDelete- Call it a "Donation"
Bro...care to give me a donation ? Perfectly legal. Both you and I won't get into trouble.
- Call it an "Advance"
If the money is returned later, then its legal.
Bro...care to Advance me some funds ? I will return it later...Kautim.
If the reports are correct, the 29 charges were withdrawn because the so-called "advance" was returned.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that a crime has been committed when a favour is given to the "briber" by the "bribee" regardless of what form this favour takes.
This includes (even if genuine), a loan or advance as it impacts the decision making process on the part of the "briber" as it obligates the "briber" to the "bribee"
Or are we to understand the MACC policy is that so long as a loan or advance is returned, everything is kosher?
We must not lose sight that it is in the "bribee's" interest to confirm it was an advance which was returned.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/590582
ReplyDeleteCitizen Nades has a good take on the merits of the Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashi case.
Does the repayment or reimbursement of monies paid as a bribe towards the instalment of the car absolve the accused of any liability?
For example, one pays for a civil servant’s monthly travel pass for over two years in exchange for favours. When the latter gets wind of impending investigations into the arrangement, he pays a lump sum and asks that the monies be treated as advances. Both would certainly be guilty.