AN investigating officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today denied that the agency protected former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, and practised ‘double standards’ for not investigating allegations that Muhyiddin withdrew large sums of money from party coffers.

Mohd Syahmeizy Sulong, 37, said he was only tasked to investigate the case of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and focused on the alleged withdrawal of RM1 million from the Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) account without the permission of the Bersatu supreme council.

The 25th prosecution witness said this during cross-examination by lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo, representing Syed Saddiq at his trial at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Syed Saddiq faces four charges of criminal breach of trust and money laundering before Judicial Commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid.

Gobind: Did you know about the withdrawal of large sums of money by Muhyiddin, who was then the president of Bersatu?

Syahmeizy: I’m not sure.

Gobind: You are practising ’double standards’ because you did not investigate Muhyiddin. You investigate other people’s complaints.

Syahmeizy: I do not agree, my investigation only focused on Syed Saddiq with regard to the withdrawal of RM1 million, which violated the constitution of Bersatu.

The MACC senior superintendent also denied that no other investigations were carried out in order to protect Muhyiddin, and disagreed with the suggestion that the MACC was only used as a tool to protect other parties.

The witness denied that he did not dare to take a statement from Muhyiddin – who was then the prime minister – because the agency was under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Gobind: Did you or did you not request for instructions from your superiors to investigate Muhyiddin regarding the information?

Syahmeizy: No.

However, the witness, said that the withdrawal was for the use of Bersatu and not for personal use.

Gobind: You said it was for the use of the Bersatu party, this means you have investigated Muhyiddin.

Syahmeizy: No, it is based on my opinion.

Earlier in the proceedings, MACC forensic technology division investigating officer Nor Fadhilah Mohd Salleh told the court that she had not heard Muhyiddin’s name mentioned in Syed Saddiq’s video recording played in court today regarding the withdrawal of money by the Bersatu president.

Nor Fadhilah, 36, said she was a little confused by Gobind’s question at yesterday’s proceedings – where the video recording was also played – because it was only played briefly, and she did not listen to the entire recording.

Gobind: In this video, it is mentioned that Muhyiddin withdrew a large sum of money without permission.

Nor Fadhilah: I did not hear the name of Muhyiddin (in the video) as you mentioned. I only got instructions to look at certain minutes in the video.

The 24th prosecution witness said there was no need for her to lodge a police report against Muhyiddin as she did not hear the latter’s name mentioned in the video recording.

Answering a question from Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, the witness said she was a forensic officer who was assigned to extract video recordings and burn them onto a DVD to be handed over to the investigating officer.

The trial before Azhar continues tomorrow. – Bernama, July 20, 2022.