Witness testified against Syed Saddiq out of fear of being charged, court hears
UPDATED 3.25PM | A prosecution witness in Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's misappropriation case admitted in court today that he agreed to testify against the accused as he was scared that the MACC would charge him in court for other cases.
Abdul Hannaan Khairi (above), 29, who is a Bersatu Youth member, said this when he was being cross-examined by Saddiq's defence lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.
“How many times in total were you...
UPDATED 3.25PM | A prosecution witness in Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's misappropriation case admitted in court today that he agreed to testify against the accused as he was scared that the MACC would charge him in court for other cases.
Abdul Hannaan Khairi (above), 29, who is a Bersatu Youth member, said this when he was being cross-examined by Syed Saddiq's defence lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.
“How many times in total were you called to the MACC office to give a statement regarding this case?” Gobind asked, to which Hannaan replied that he doesn’t remember.
Gobind: Many times?
Hannaan: Definitely many times.
Gobind: And how did you feel? Were you scared?
Hannaan: Scared.
Gobind: Scared why? Was it because the MACC also asked you about other cases? Is this correct?
Hannaan: I’m not sure.
Gobind then told the witness to think carefully before asking Hannaan if he was scared the MACC would ask him about other cases.
To this, Hannaan replied, “Yes”.
Gobind: You are scared you would be charged over the cases. Correct?
Hannaan: Yes.
Gobind: So, you are willing to give this testimony (against Syed Saddiq) so you will not be charged for other cases?
Hannaan: No.
Gobind: Tell the truth. You had agreed to be a witness against Syed Saddiq because you are scared that you will be charged over other cases. This is the court. You can say it.
Hannaan then asked judge Azhar Abdul Hamid’s permission to go to the toilet but was ordered to answer the question first.
Hannaan: Yes.
After Hannaan answered the question, Gobind then requested that the witness is not spoken to when he goes to the toilet.
Earlier, the prosecution witness told the court that Syed Saddiq had asked him to get backdated quotation and receipt for merchandise ordered for Bersatu Youth.
According to Hannaan, who is a former Bersatu Youth exco member, the Muar MP had given him the order when they met at the latter's house on June 2, 2020.
Volkswagen Passat
During the cross-examination by Gobind, Hannaan told the court that the MACC had also directed its line of questioning at a Volkswagen Passat that he had bought in early 2020.
He said MACC had seized the vehicle during its investigation and only returned it to him about a year later.
Gobind: Mr Hannaan, I am sorry but I have to ask this one question. Would you agree that, since MACC was investigating the car... I put it to you that you were worried that action can be taken against you over the vehicle?
Hannaan: Yes
Gobind: You were scared that action will be taken against you by MACC?
Hannaan: Yes
Gobind: And you agree that no action has been taken against you so far in regard to the said car?
Hannaan: Yes
During the cross-examination, court also heard from Hannaan that he was tricked to go to the MACC headquarters on the evening of June 4, 2020, before being arrested.
The former Bersatu Youth exco member said that he received a call about 11pm from a friend named Mohd Saufi Yusof, who was at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist in the case investigation, and to help pick Saufi up from the premises.
When Hannaan arrived around midnight, he waited for Saufi in his car at the MACC lobby area and tried calling the friend, but to no avail as Saufi did not answer his phone.
This was when he saw several MACC officers running towards his parked car and ordered Hannaan to park it in a nearby parking spot, before they ordered him to follow the plainclothes officers into an investigation room.
"There, I saw Saufi, who was clad in lock-up attire, if I am not mistaken.
"Then, a MACC officer asked me to call Naqib (Bersatu Youth member Muhammad Naqib Ab Rahim) to set a meet-up," Hannaan testified.
According to the witness, he and the MACC officers then went to Naqib's shop, where the officers arrested Naqib.
Both of them were then taken back to the MACC headquarters before Hannaan was allowed to return home.
Hannaan agreed to a suggestion by Gobind that he felt tricked to go to the MACC office.
Wife also intimidated
Besides worrying about himself, the court heard from the witness that he was also concerned about his wife, as the woman had also been a target of the MACC probe.
Hannaan said that his wife, whom he married in August 2020, was detained by MACC in June that year.
The witness admitted that he was told by the woman about her experience while under detention, including being ordered to strip down by MACC officers for checks.
"She also told me that she received a not so pleasant treatment from MACC during the investigation," Hannaan said.
"I do not remember the details in specific, but she did mention being yelled at, having her chair kicked, and maybe several other things," he added when asked by Gobind to elaborate.
Syed Saddiq's defence lawyer then referred the witness to a police report lodged by Hannaan's wife in June 2020, which detailed her ordeal.
According to what Gobind read out in court, the woman, identified as Siti Nurul Hidayah, was yelled at with words such as "babi" and "bodoh".
An officer was said to have threatened to slap her in the face. She also had to stand on one foot while holding both hands up while being questioned.
"Yes, my wife did inform me of this," said Hannaan.
Gobind: So, how did you feel when you heard all this happened to your wife?
Hannaan: I was sad and disappointed.
Gobind: Were you also feeling pressured?
Hannaan: Yes
Gobind: And this was because MACC wanted specific answers from you and your wife?
Hannaan: Yes.
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