LABUAN MP Rozman Isli today pleaded not guilty to a charge of abusing his position as the deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority by awarding a government contract to his family members.

A court interpreter read out the charges to the Parti Warisan Sabah chief whip before judge Rozina Ayub. 

The charge sheet said Rozman was alleged to have used his position to obtain bribes in the form of workers’ contracts in connection with Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan.

The contracts were said to have been awarded to a company named Syarikat Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd, which is linked to Rozman’s father and brother.

The accused was said to have committed the offence at the Transport Ministry office in Jalan Tun Hussein, Precinct 4, Putrajaya, between 2.30pm to 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.

He was charged under section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in jail and a fine of five times the sum of the bribe for the convicted party.

Deputy public prosecutor Akram Gharib asked for bail at RM100,000 with one surety. He also asked that the accused surrender his passport to the court.

Rozman’s lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali did not dispute the bail amount.

The judge allowed bail to be set at RM100,000 with one surety and ordered Rozman to hand over his passport.

The case is set for mention on November 19. – October 14, 2021.