KEY witnesses in Musa Aman’s graft and money-laundering charges linked to timber concessions died, suffered serious health problems or are no longer in Malaysia, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan said today.

These are among the reasons the case against the former Sabah chief minister was withdrawn, said the minister in charge of Parliament and law in a written reply to Liew Vui Keong (Batu Sapi-PH).

Musa was also acquitted because of the outcome of the Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption against Sabah politicians.

The commission informed the authorities here via a letter dated December 22, 2011 that its investigation into Musa merited no further investigation, said Takiyuddin.

Documentary evidence of companies and banking overseas are not expected to be obtained through the mutual legal assistance, he said.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers were told by the Hong Kong Department of Justice that companies and banks in Hong Kong are only required to keep records for a period of seven years and most likely the companies and banks no longer have such records or documents,” Takyuddin added.

Musa’s defence team had ubmitted a representation to drop the case to the AGC on May 13, 2020.

This was followed by a supporting affidavit filed in Court on June 5.

Musa was acquitted of 46 graft and money-laundering charges linked to timber concessions on June 9.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin agreed to the defence’s application to acquit the Umno politician after earlier allowing the prosecution’s application to withdraw the charges.

With the acquittal, Musa cannot be tried again for the same offence. – July 23, 2020.