Kuala lumpur: The investigating officer in the Jana Wibawa case involving Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today denied in the High Court that his investigation was biased, or that KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd director Datuk Seri Azman Yusoff received special treatment, including immunity and protection.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Mazery Mohd Zaini, 42, said this during cross-examination by lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik in the trial of the former prime minister, who faces seven charges of abuse of position and money laundering.
The 29th prosecution witness disagreed with the lawyer's suggestion that he was protecting Azman because the businessman was a witness testifying in court against Muhyiddin.
During the cross-examination, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik questioned Mazery on whether Azman received special treatment because of a purported "deal" with the MACC, suggesting that Azman would be granted immunity and protection when testifying. However, Mazery firmly disagreed with this assertion.
Despite this, Mazery, who currently heads Branch B Investigation at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, acknowledged that Azman was not remanded during the investigation into the Jana Wibawa case.
In earlier court proceedings, Azman, the 27th prosecution witness, testified that he was neither remanded nor charged because he had not committed any offence related to allegations of soliciting and receiving money from contractor companies involved in Jana Wibawa projects.
Mazery also responded to questions regarding his knowledge of an individual named Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad. He admitted knowing Adam Radlan but stated that he had not investigated him.
The witness further mentioned his lack of awareness regarding transactions involving Adam Radlan's company, Bayu Bumiraya Sdn Bhd, allegedly receiving RM2 million from businessman Lian Tan Chuan (TC Lian) or Nepturis Sdn Bhd in connection with Jana Wibawa projects.
In response to Hisyam's questioning about payments received by Azman and Adam Radlan from Nepturis or TC Lian, Mazery maintained that there was nothing unusual about Adam Radlan being charged in court while Azman was not.
Another lawyer for Muhyiddin, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, queried Mazery on whether Muhyiddin was aware of contributions from Nepturis and Mamfor Sdn Bhd. Mazery stated he did not know.
Earlier, Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin permitted the defence to recall four prosecution witnesses, including Azman, to focus on contributions to Bersatu and matters related to Adam Radlan.
Muhyiddin, 79, was charged with four counts of abuse of power for allegedly soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for the political party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Azman Yusoff connected to the Jana Wibawa project.
He allegedly committed the offence at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries severe penalties.
Additionally, Muhyiddin faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in unlawful proceeds deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts, allegedly committed between February 2021 and July 2022, under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The trial is set to resume tomorrow.