Five witnesses in a corruption trial involving former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohamad Norza Zakaria his agent, Halimi Kamaruzzaman, were charged in the Temerloh Magistrate's Court today for giving false evidence.

The five were accused of giving contradictory evidence at the trial in the Temerloh Sessions Court on Feb 1, 2 and 19.

They are businessman Nasaruddin Abdullah, 47, Khadri Musa, 47, Pahang Special Affairs (Jasa) director Yusof Jamaluddin, 53, and two Pahang Jasa officers, Nor Azhar Abdul Latif, 48, and Saiful Azman Mokhtar Affendi, 46.

They pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Ida Rahayu Sharif.

Nasaruddin and Khadri's case will be brought for mention from Nov 8 to 10, while that of Yusof and Nor Azhar (Nov 11, 15 and 16), and Saiful Azman (Nov 24, 25 and 29).

Their testimonies were said to be not consistent with the statements given to four senior assistant superintendents of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the MACC Temerloh office on Jan 20, 21 and 22 last year.

Ida Rahayu granted them a RM5,000 bail with one surety.

The five were represented by lawyer Francis Tan while deputy public prosecutor Rashidi Abd Rahim prosecuted.

- Bernama