The key witness in Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s corruption trial accused the former Selangor mentri besar today of pressuring him to lie to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and not to implicate him.
Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni testified today that Dr Khir (picture) had asked him “not to involve him in the charge” when the former gave his statement to the anti-graft body in 2009.
“Many times, I was promised that this case was under control and he (Dr Khir) and I would not be prosecuted,” said Shamsuddin at the High Court here today.
“When I went to the MACC, I believed I was just a witness...When the MACC came with a charge sheet in this court, there Datuk Seri Khir Toyo told me ‘Don’t worry, Shamsuddin. We can solve this’,” added the construction and property developer.
Shamsuddin said in a breaking voice that he did not want to “shame” anyone before Judge Datuk Wira Mohtarudin Baki interrupted him, saying: “This is not a forum or speech.”
“I was charged and I don’t understand why I was charged,” said the 55-year-old businessman.
When Shamsuddin, who was dressed in a black suit, said he was “pressured” by Dr Khir not to implicate him, the Umno politician shook his head and a disapproving noise sounded in the packed gallery.
Shamsuddin testified yesterday that he “was asked” to inform the MACC in 2009 that he had sold his palatial home and two plots of land in Section 7 here to Dr Khir to cut his losses, which he insisted today was untrue.
The balding businessman also said he told the national graftbuster that he had appointed landscape artist Nasir Ismail to renovate the mansion, but stressed yesterday that the latter was actually appointed by Dr Khir.
Shamsuddin added that he did not tell the MACC that he had sold his properties to the man, who had helmed the country’s richest state for almost eight years, below market value.
The businessman testified recently that he sold the properties to Dr Khir in 2007 for RM3.5 million despite buying the properties for RM6.5 million in 2004, because he feared for his Selangor business interests.
Shamsuddin was charged last December with abetting Dr Khir in an allegedly fraudulent deal involving the latter’s Balinese-style mansion.
The prosecution, however, dropped all charges against Shamsuddin earlier this month, after which he said he changed his statement to the MACC.
“Do you agree that you gave a false statement (to the MACC in 2009) which is a crime under the MACC Act?” asked Dr Khir’s lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin today.
“The statement was because of pressure from Datuk Seri Khir Toyo,” replied Shamsuddin, adding that the MACC did not force him to give a false statement.
comments
BN with such people cannot take over Selangor. Wait and dream.
all this does is just delay the case being dismissed - all forgotten...in a couple of years, he'll be back in politics..again, holidays to Disneyland...and the cycle continues
Luckily, PR took over Selangor, if not all this would be swept under the carpet. PR keep on digging maybe you may hit a goldmine. Never mind for the BeNd to control the Putrajaya NOW, at least expose their wrong doing for all the Malaysian to know their dirty corrupt practices.
Looking at the daily news media online , there are never ending stories of how our leaders are sucking the country dry day by day , wondering whether the rakyat is suffering or not as for me I'm beginning to feel the pinch of current lifestyle trying to make ends meet without knowing what gonna happen next in future , the leaders just tell us to adjust our lifestyle but the way they are spending money on unnecessary expenses really puzzles me.
Really contemplating of migrating to another country even becoming taxi driver is better off than continue to struggle here. Our country is beyond help already cause it has reach cancerous disease stage 4.
No comments:
Post a Comment