Prosecutors Had Strong Case Against Musa, but It was Ordered Closed

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Special prosecutor and former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today that they have a strong case against the former Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

  • Case already investigated by MACC for some time, but ordered to be closed previously
  • Former A-G Abdul Gani Patail did not order for Musa to be prosecuted
  • Reportedly, Gani is a relative of Musa
  • MACC had once sought review of case against Musa and his associate Michael Chia
  • Credit to A-G Tommy Thomas and team in MACC for charges

He told the Sessions Court that this case had already been investigated by the MACC for some time.

“But for the strangest reason, the case had been ordered to be closed previously,” he told the court.

Lim Huey Teng/Malaysiakini

He said that there will be two or three foreign witnesses brought in to testify.

Musa today claimed trial to 35 counts of graft over getting kickbacks of more than US$63 million (RM263 million) in awarding timber concessions between 2004 and 2008.

Lim Huey Teng/Malaysiakini

Speaking to Malaysiakini when contacted, Sri Ram said he finds it amazing that the then attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail did not order for Musa to be prosecuted.

“Credit should go attorney-general Tommy Thomas and the team in the MACC comprising chief commissioner Mohd Sukri Abdull, his deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki and DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib and Kamal Bahrin Omar,” he said.

Sri Ram also credited MACC director of money-laundering investigations Zamri Zainal Abidin and his deputy investigating officer identified only as Hasbullah.

It was previously reported that Gani – who hails from Sabah – is a relative of Musa. The MACC operations review panel had once sought a review of the case against Musa and his associate Michael Chia. – Malaysiakini


Earlier report: Nov 5, Musa Claims Trial to 35 Graft Charges of RM263M over Timber Concessions