A senior lawyer today filed a RM50 million suit against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged defamation, assault and false imprisonment.

NONE In the suit, Rosli Dahlan ( left ) named 17 parties including MACC deputy commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, MACC officers, the Attorney-General Chambers, Bank Negara, Utusan Malaysia and the government.

Being director of several large multinational companies and a trustee of an international charitable organisation he claimed their actions on him had affected his integrity and good reputation.

In his revealing and explosive statement of claim, he explained in length the acrimonious relationship between former Commercial Crime Department chief Ramli Yusoff and Inspector General Police Musa Hassan and how the IGP had used the MACC (formerly the Anti Corruption Agency) and the Attorney General Chambers to implicate him and Ramli.

Rosli's and Ramli's predicament was highlighted by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin on his Malaysia Today website.

Rosli claimed he had acted for Ramli and the then Deputy Home Minister Johari Baharom.

His predicament came about sometime in 2007 and as described in his statement of claim, Ramli and Johari was part of a joint-Cabinet committee and Special Task Force set up to combat illegal money lending.

In March 2007, Johari instructed Ramli to conduct an investigation into a money-lending syndicate in Tangkak, Johor and as a result of the investigations one Goh Cheng Poh, was detained and banished under the Restricted Residence Act 1933, where the order was signed and executed by the Deputy Minister.

However, Musa sees Goh's arrest as disloyalty on the part of Ramli resulting in the IGP further initiating ACA investigations on him. This resulted in a strained relationship between Musa and Johari.

AG refused to act for Johari and police officers

The dispute between Johari and Musa led to the disclosure of highly sensitive and confidential information relating to police informants and police officers who investigated Goh. It also led to the Attorney-General abdicating from his responsibility in protecting and defending government officers in their discharge of loyal duty.

As the AG had refused to act, Rosli then provided his services to the police officers who had investigated Goh.

"In these circumstances, I was seen as actively participating and assisting Ramli and Johari in what was perceived as an attempt to undermine the IGP".

He claimed that Musa along with former ACA director of prosecution Nordin Hassan and the AG are the key players in the prosecution case of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Rosli alleged that sometime back in July 2007, Musa had embarked on a campaign to frame him, by using the ACA, AG and Bank Negara, because he had advised Ramli and Johari in Goh's banishment.

This led to ACA conducting investigations on Ramli and all properties owned by Rosli.

He claimed that he was issued a notice by the ACA to provide details of his assets. He further alleged that he was then charged at the Sessions Court for not making the required declaration eventhough the ACA had yet to finish their investigations on him.

Rosli also alleged that the ACA had illegally arrested him, which later led to the publication of several defamatory articles connecting Ramli and him.

The publication of these defamatory articles resulted in Utusan Malaysia later issuing an apology.

Assault and false imprisonment

Rosli claimed that the ACA officers had illegally arrested, wrongly assaulted and imprisoned him when he was picked up at noon, on Oct 10 2007, the 27th day of Ramadhan. Aggressive and unreasonable force was used on him at his arrest.

The arrest came after he had arranged and agreed with an ACA officer to come over only after Hari Raya.

Rosli claimed an officer had kicked his leg, twisted his arms and handcuffed him tightly resulting in lacerations and swelling wrists. He was detained overnight and was refused access to his lawyers and his wife and three children.

He alleged that he was paraded in handcuffs from the public car park to the courts at Jalan Duta.

The lawyer claimed that these malicious actions were carried out so as to tarnish his image.

Rosli has submitted claims for RM20 million for general damages and RM30 million for exemplary and aggravated damages.

He has also filed a judicial review to challenge the ACA's requirement to him to declare his assets. Subsequently, his application was dismissed without leave being granted.

The Sessions Court has also kept quiet over his charge of asset declaration by the ACA. However, last Monday the court has fixed a trial date, to be heard sometime in November.

Rosli explained that since all these actions were carried out against him in the holy month of Ramadhan, he has decided to file the suit before the start of Hari Raya.