The Temerloh Sessions Court today allowed an application by the prosecution in the corruption trial of former Federal Territory Umno Youth chief Mohamad Norza Zakaria and his agent, Halimi Kamaruzzaman, to impeach the credibility of its own witness.

Judge Azuar Che Yusoff, in allowing the application by deputy public prosecutor Saiful Edris, said there were contradictions in the testimony of Temerloh Umno Youth vice-chief Mohammad Anuar Yunus regarding a function held at his house on Jan 20, 2009.

According to Saiful, Mohammad Anuar testified in court today that the function was not held to promote Mohamad Norza, which contradicted a statement he had made to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) earlier that the function was held to promote Mohamad Norza.

Saiful made the application after Mohammad Anuar refused to read out his written statement to MACC in court.

Mohammad Anuar then told the court that the function was initially intended to promote Mohamad Norza, who was contesting for a Supreme Council seat in the Umno election, but it turned into a "kenduri selamat" because a political function could only be held by the state Umno liaison committee on the directive of the party's Supreme Council.

Cross-examined by Halimi's counsel, Jahaberbeen Mohd Yunos, Mohamad Anuar said that as an Umno leader, he complied with the directive issued by the party on the hosting of functions for leaders contesting for posts in the party elections.

Mohamad Norza, 43, who was also a former Umno Supreme Council member, is accused of giving a bribe of RM1,500 to Khadri Musa 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 offences were alleged to have been committed at 6.30pm on Jan 20, 2009 at No 38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh.

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.

However, today the prosecution offered them an alternative charges where the words "on his behalf" had been removed. They again pleaded not guilty.

Hearing continues tomorrow.

- Bernama