UMNO Supreme Council member and former Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim was today freed of his corruption charges involving road projects in Perak and Kedah, amounting to RM5.2 million.

High Court judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid allowed Azeez’s application to vary the Sessions Court order from a discharge not amounting to acquittal to a full acquittal, after deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim did not raise any objection.

Azhar allowed Azeez’s notice of motion to get a full acquittal on his nine charges – three for corruption and six for money-laundering.

Azeez, 55, was charged with three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2 million and six charges of money-laundering worth RM972,414.60 in relation to road projects in Perak and Kedah, with the offences allegedly committed at five banks in the federal capital between September 6, 2010, and April 10, 2018.

The former lawmaker was also slapped with 10 counts of money-laundering involving RM13.9 million over funds from a company, Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

However, the Court of Appeal in August quashed four of the 10 charges.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, who represented Azeez, told the court the investigation against the former Tabung Haji chairman had been completed and assets seized from him during the investigation had been returned.

“It is only fair for an order of acquittal and discharge be given to my client,” he said.

With today’s court order, the prosecution cannot reinstate charges or bring new ones against Azeez based on the same facts. – December 9, 2022.