THE Sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today granted Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for nine charges related to road projects in Perak and Kedah.

Judge Azura Alwi said the court was satisfied with the prosecution’s request for an order to discharge Azeez.

“This is to enable the prosecution to complete their investigations on ‘new’ leads, after the accused (Azeez) submitted his representations.

“The court cannot conclude that the prosecution has no intention to proceed with the trial,” the judge said. 

Azeez was charged with three corruption counts involving RM5.2 million and 10 money laundering offences involving RM13.9 million.

The corruption charges are in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah while the money laundering charges involved money he allegedly received from a company called Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

The defence had submitted five representations to the prosecution over Azeez’s charges, claiming he had been accused in bad faith.

The hearing of Azeez’s case began on August 19, 2020 in the Sessions Court, where seven prosecution witnesses had been called to testify. – September 23, 2022.