Beginning tomorrow until next month, several important verdicts will be delivered involving three politicians, starting with former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s multi-million ringgit mansion case at the Shah Alam High Court.

Justice Mohtaruddin Baki is expected to deliver the judgment on Khir at 9am in what is seen as a start on decisions on vital court cases before Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is expected to call the highly anticipated 13th general election.

NONE Khir is charged with graft in obtaining for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik, two lots of land and a house at No 8 & 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L, from Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni, at RM3.5 million, a lower price than the RM6.5 million Ditamas paid for it in 2004.

The former Selangor MB allegedly entered into the transaction with the knowledge that Shamsuddin had dealings with him in his official capacity as the state’s chief executive at the time.

The Sungai Panjang assemblyperson allegedly committed the offence at the Selangor menteri besar’s official residence at Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7, Shah Alam on May 29, 2007.

Khir was charged with much media fanfare on Dec 10, last year, and he is staring at a possible two years’ jail term or a fine or both on the least of the graft charge under section 165 of the Penal Code.

He has alleged in one of his blog postings this year that three federal ministers wanted him jailed for graft following the charge.

Without naming the three ministers, Khir claimed one of the ministers was said to have told two others that to get back Selangor, he (Khir) must be charged.

“Now, the same minister has said that to win in Selangor, Khir must be jailed. Are they powerful enough to control a judge? I don’t believe they can direct a judge nor will a judge listen to this group,” wrote Khir in the blog, resulting in spiralling speculation over who are the three.

Twenty five prosecution witnesses and five defence witnesses including Khir testified in the trial.

Verdict in Anwar’s case on Jan 9

However, Khir’s case may be dwarfed by the sodomy charged faced by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, where the Permatang Pauh MP will know his fate on Jan 9 in what is seen worldwide as  political persecution.

azlan Anwar is charged with sodomy on his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.15pm and 4.30pm, on June 26, 2008.

This is the second time that Anwar is facing a sodomy charge after the first was levelled on him in 1998 after he was sacked as the deputy prime minister. However, the conviction was reversed on appeal at the Federal Court.

Ironically, Anwar faces the latest charge which allegedly occurred just before he was scheduled to stand in the Permatang Pauh constituency by-election in August 2008.

Day in and day out, international political observers representing the various embassies here have sent representatives to monitor the trial to get first-hand information.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah will deliver his verdict that day after hearing testimony from 27 prosecution and seven defence witnesses.

Anwar himself gave a statement from the dock and did not testify on the witness stand.

Anwar’s trial was rocked further following allegations that the complainant Mohd Saiful was supposed to have had an affair with a DPP Farah Azlina Latiff, who was part of the prosecution team.  

azlan In the midst of the trial, the politician was rocked by another alleged sex scandal when the Datuk T trio showed a video clip to several journalist at the posh Carcosa Seri Negara hotel on March 21. Anwar had since denied it was him in the video.

This case is also the last for solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden who has opted for early retirement at the age of 56.

Ling to know fate Jan 27

Later next month, former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik is expected to know his fate on whether he will be requited to enter his defence following the multi-million ringgit Port Klang Free Zone fiasco.

azlan Ling, a former MCA president, was charged on July 29 last year with duping the government by not disclosing to the cabinet an additional interest rate of 7.5 percent a year on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 per sq ft, inclusive of the coupon/interest rate.

He also faces two alternative charges of cheating and intentionally omitting from the cabinet that the 7.5 percent a year was an additional interest rate on the land price.

The offences were allegedly committed at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.

A total of 25 witnesses were called by the prosecution, led by the head of prosecution of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah.

Justice Ahmadi Asnawi will deliver his decision on whether the defence should be called on Jan 27.