TEMERLOH, Feb 1 — The corruption trial of former Federal Territory Umno Youth head Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria and his agent, Halimi Kamaruzzaman, took a new twist today when a prosecution witness claimed that the statement given to a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer earlier was inaccurate.
Datuk Khadri Musa, 47, who is the ninth prosecution witness, claimed during cross-examination that his statement on Jan 20 last year was made in a ‘cut and paste’ manner based on the statement made by another individual, Yusof Jamaludin.
Khadri, who is also the Maran Umno division committee member, said the MACC officer concerned only changed his personal particulars in the statement.
When questioned by counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who represented Mohamad Norza, whether he had signed the statement, Khadri confirmed that he had signed the statement.
However, he said, he did so because he wanted to return home early as he had business matters to attend to in Putrajaya the following day.
Khadri: But it was not the signature that I normally used.
Muhammad Shafee: Explain why Datuk did not use your normal signature.
Khadri: I was afraid that the information was not true, so my signature was also not the right one.
When questioned by Muhammad Shafee why he did not read the statement before signing it, Khadri said he could not do so because he did not have his spectacles at that time.
Asked on the treatment given to him by the MACC officers, Khadri said the officer who recorded his conversation at the Temerloh MACC office, here was courteous, but two other MACC officers were very rude to the extent of shouting at him.
Earlier, when questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor Saiful Edris, Khadri told the court that he had been invited to attend a gathering at the house of Mohammad Anuar Yunus in Temerloh on Jan 20, last year where Mohamad Norza was also present.
Asked on the highlights of Mohamad Norza’s speech at the gathering, Khadri said the accused talked about the direction of the Malays, the role of Umno Youth before continuing with the question and answer session.
However, after being shown the statement he had made to the MACC earlier, Khadri later said that Mohamad Norza had asked for the support of delegates who were present for a seat in the Umno Supreme Council at the election to be held later.
Shafee, however, applied to the court to take into consideration the statement made in court instead of the one made earlier.
Meanwhile, Khadri also told the court that he had been called by his cousin Halimi, who is also the second accused, who had given him five white envelopes to be distributed to four other members of the Maran Umno at the gathering.
Saiful: After getting them (envelopes), did you look at the content?
Khadri: Yes, RM300 in cash.
Saiful: What’s the purpose of giving the RM300?
Khadri: Petrol money.
Mohamad Norza, 43, who was also a former Umno Supreme Council member, is accused of giving a bribe of RM1,500 to Khadri through Halimi to be distributed to the delegates as an inducement to vote for him in the contest for a seat in the Umno Supreme Council at the last Umno General Assembly.
He also faces another charge of giving a bribe of RM1,900 to Mohammad Anuar Yunus through Halimi for the same purpose.
Both charges are alleged to have been committed at 6.30 pm on Jan 20, 2009 at No. 38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh, here.
Halimi, 47, from Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan is being charged on two counts of giving bribes to Khadri and Mohammad Anuar on behalf of Mohamad Norza at the same time, date and place.
The hearing before Sessions Court Judge Azuar Che Yusof continues tomorrow. — Bernama
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