Police report lodged against Kijal rep to clear MACC's name - witness

A MACC officer told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today he filed a police report against Bersatu information chief Senator Razali Idris over his speech during the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery, to clear the MACC’s name.

Muhamad Adib Azami, 40, said the Kijal assemblyperson, in his speech, claimed that the government machinery, the MACC, and the judiciary were being controlled by the government led by the 10th prime minister.

“Razali also questioned the decision of the High Court judge who found former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman guilty of four charges (criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds and money laundering), which I believe could be viewed as contempt of court.

“I was one of the MACC officers who investigated the Syed Saddiq case. The probe was conducted transparently, with no interference from any parties,” he said when reading his witness statement on the first day of Razali’s sedition trial before judge Siti Amina Ghazali.

On Nov 24 last year, Razali, 58, who is also the State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairperson, was charged in the Sessions Court with making a speech of a seditious nature at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery.

He was charged with making insulting remarks by stating decisions of the judiciary were being controlled by the government, at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman in Terengganu between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Nov 10.

Free from external interference

The charge, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 provides for a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

Adib, the complainant in this case, said the MACC’s investigation into Syed Saddiq was free from any external interference, and that the High Court’s decision to sentence the Muar MP was made transparently.

The second prosecution witness said the police report was filed on Nov 15, 2023, after he came across a TikTok post on Nov 14, 2023, featuring Razali’s speech at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery on Nov 10, 2023.

“On Nov 14, 2023, around 11pm, I was at home in Putrajaya when I saw a TikTok post by the account using the profile name of @wancin,” he said, adding that the video lasted about two minutes and featured Razali’s name in the caption.

To the question posed by lawyer Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, representing Razali, about whether the police report was made on behalf of the MACC, Adib responded, “Yes, the report was filed in my personal capacity.”

The witness agreed with Awang Armadajaya’s suggestion that he had not received any instructions from the MACC or the court when he filed the police report.

Impact on morale

During the re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal, Adib said he filed the police report to clear the MACC’s name, despite not representing the agency, as it could affect the morale of the officers investigating the case.

Earlier, the first prosecution witness, Mohd Zaidi Mohd Di, 41, a photographer from the Technical Assistance Branch (D6) of the Criminal Investigation Department at Kemaman district police headquarters, testified that he had been assigned to take photographs and videos at the event.

“I took a total of 20 photographs during the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery, and the video recording lasted two hours, 35 minutes, and 33 seconds,” he said.

The third prosecution witness, Mohamad Ramizan Ramli, 39, said he heard Razali mention the event had received approval from the police and that it was attended by 5,000 people without any incidents.

The trial continues on Sept 27.

- Bernama

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