Two former Perak assemblypersons were acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court in Ipoh on three counts of corruption, involving a housing project, costing RM180 million, in Seri Iskandar five years ago.

perak exco aca arrest 200808 mohd osman mohd jailu Former Changkat Jering assemblyperson Captain (Rtd) Mohd Osman Jailu, 62 ( centre in photo ), and former Central Perak District Council member Usaili Alias, 61, heaved a sigh of relief after judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh handed down the decision.

They were seen in tears as they hugged their family members.

In his judgment, Azhaniz Teh said the defence had succeeded in raising doubts against the prosecution’s case.

Mohd Osman and Usaili were charged with three counts of receiving and soliciting bribes over the RM180 million housing project.

On the first and second count, they were charged with accepting RM5,000 and soliciting RM100,000 from one Mohamad Imran at the Aquarias Restaurant & Bar, Fourth Floor, Summit Hotel, Bukit Mertajam, Penang on Aug 16, 2008.

On the third count, they were alleged to have accepted RM100,000 from Mohamad Imran at the Restoran Kluang Station Cafe at Medan Istana, Bandar Ipoh Raya on Aug 19, 2008.

Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Abdul Razak Musa, while lawyers Wan Azmir Wan Majid and Surjan Singh represented Mohd Osman and Usaili, respectively.

- Bernama