KUALA LUMPUR: Former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, has applied to transfer his five graft charges from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
His lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, confirmed the application, filed on Feb 4, and said the hearing for the transfer has been set for April 9. The request was made on the grounds that the case involves complex legal issues, including questions about the constitutionality of provisions under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which can be determined by the High Court and, subsequently, the Federal Court.
“This case is of public interest as it involves charges against a former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister,” the affidavit stated. Shamsul added that holding the trial in the High Court would allow for appeals to the Federal Court, providing clarity on legal issues that could guide other courts.
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Shamsul was charged on Dec 4 with accepting cash bribes totaling RM140,000 and additional gifts valued at RM36,829 from businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, allegedly to assist Tei’s companies in obtaining approvals for mineral exploration licences in Sabah, despite the matters being unrelated to his official duties. He faced further charges on Dec 5 for allegedly accepting RM62,924 as a bribe deposited into a third party’s bank account.
All charges are framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, upon conviction.
-Thestar
