The High Court in Temerloh set May 9 to hear the submissions from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) pertaining to the status of the nine witnesses for the trial involving former Umno supreme council member Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

MACC prosecution officer Abdul Razak Musa said prior to this, the witnesses - Khadri Musa, 48, Muhammad Anuar Mohd Yunus, 44, Nasaruddin Abdullah, 48, Mohd Sabri Aziz, 46, Yusof Jamaluddin, 54, Jalaluddin Johan, 48, Mohd Taupik Hussin, 41, Nor Azhar Abdul Latip, 49, and Saiful Azman Mokhtar Affendi, 46 - were charged at the magistrate’s court in Temerloh with giving false statement during Mohamad Norza’s trial at the Sessions Court.

However, they were acquitted and discharged by Magistrate Siti Hajar Mustaffa after the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt.

High Court Judge Akhtar Tahir also asked both the prosecution and defence to prepare their written submissions on the case.

All the witnesses were present in court today.

On June 17, 2010, Mohamad Norza and his agent, Halimi Kamaruzaman, were freed from a bribery charge after the prosecution failed to prove its case following the contradictory statements given by the witnesses to the court.

Mohamad Norza 43, was charged with giving a bribe of RM1,500 to Khadri Musa, through Halimi, to be distributed to Umno delegates as an inducement for them to vote for him (Mohamad Norza) at the party polls.

He was alleged to have committed the offence at about 6.30pm on Jan 20, 2008 at No 38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh in Temerloh.

- Bernama