The Temerloh High Court today rejected the appeal by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the case of nine witnesses charged with giving false evidence during the trial of Mohamad Norza Zakaria on a corruption case two years ago.

Judge Akhtar Tahir made the decision after finding that the prosecution, the MACC, failed to prove that the witnesses had given false statements at the trial of Mohamad Norza.

The decision freed all the nine witnesses from the charge of giving false testimonies during the trial.

The witnesses were 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.

During the trial at the magistrate’s court last year, they were all charged with giving contradicting statements before Sessions Court Judge Azuar Che Yusof at the trial against Mohamad Norza from Feb 10, 2009 until May 13, 2010.

The statements were alleged to have contradicted the statements given by them to the MACC investigating officer between Jan 20 and April 23, 2009 at the Temerloh MACC office.

On June 17 2010, Mohamad Norza and his agent, Halimi Kamaruzaman were acquitted and discharged from the charge of corruption after the prosecution did not intend to submit further evidence after the witnesses turned around.

The nine witnesses yesterday were represented by their counsel, Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos while the MACC was represented by Razak Musa.

- Bernama