The Klang Sessions Court today ordered former Selangor state executive councillor Mohd Shariff Jajang ( below ) to enter his defence on a corruption charge over a land application in Sepang 14 years ago.

Judge Yong Zarida Sazali said she was satisfied that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Mohd Shariff, 67, who had been the state assemblyperson for Dengkil.

The court set April 4, 6, 7 and 8 for the hearing.

A total of 32 prosecution witnesses had testified in the trial which began in 2004.

Deputy public prosecutors Zulkarnain Hassan and Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) appeared for the prosecution while Mohd Shariff was represented by lawyers Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Badrul Munir Bukhari and Amy Chong Boon Chin.

sharif jajang Mohd Shariff is charged with using his official position as the then Dengkil assemblyperson and member of the Sepang district land committee to approve a temporary occupation licence application for about 1.2 hectares in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang, from Institut Kemahiran Memandu Sepang Sdn Bhd (Ikmas), a subsidiary of Konsortium Sepang Berhad (KSB), on 16 June 1997.

At that time, Mohd Shariff, his wife Patimah Isa and their sons Shahrum and Shahrin owned 1.36 per cent of the equity in KSB.

The charge, under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 1970, provides for a maximum jail sentence of 14 years or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.

Mohd Shariff was appointed a member of the Selangor state executive council in 1997 and was in charge of the infrastructure, information and Malay reserve land portfolio.

He has served under former menteris besar Abu Hassan Omar and Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

- Bernama