SHAH ALAM: Former Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Hanan Alang Endut is now a free man after the High Court here rejected an appeal against a Sessions Court decision which found him not guilty of 10 counts of corruption involving RM59,390.60.
Speaking to media outside the courtroom after the decision on Monday, Abdul Hanan said he was thankful that the case is now over.
''I do not know what will happen next but it is a relief,'' he said before leaving with his wife and lead counsel Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
In his judgment Justice Abdul Halim Aman said the prosecution failed to fully prove all the charges made against Abdul Hanan.
''The statement of the main prosecution witness was consistent with the caution statement recorded from Abdul Hanan that the giving and receiving of the cheques were for the purpose of loans to a friend," said Justice Abdul Halim.
He added that there was a written agreement between them stating that Abdul Hanan would repay the loans once he received his gratuity after his retirement, and said this was confirmed by the investigating officer.
According to him, the investigating officer of the case recorded the main prosecution witness' statement that the loans were given without interest, adding that the court found the loans to be genuine and not intended to be bribes.
''After deliberating on all statements and exhibits presented throughout the trial, the court finds that the prosecution's appeal has no merit and is therefore rejected. The respondent is free from all charges and the decision meted by the Sessions Court on March 30, 2012 will stay,'' said Justice Abdul Halim.
Abdul Hanan was charged in 2009 with 10 counts of receiving bribes in the form of United Overseas Bank blank cheques from Global Goodway (M) Sdn Bhd's Adam Omar as an incentive for approving the company's TechnoFund application in December 2008, and cashing them for RM59,390.60.
The Sessions Court subsequently acquitted and discharged Abdul Hanan on March 30, 2012 without calling for his defence after 34 prosecution witnesses testified in the case.
However, the prosecution then filed an appeal at the High Court arguing that the Sessions Court judge had ignored the definition of bribe in the judgment and had erred for not taking into account that a loan was also a form of a bribe.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/27/high-court-upholds-decision-to-acquit-former-sec-gen-of-corruption/#oekiH11psEjk1fWf.99
