50 witnesses to testify in Wan Saiful money laundering, graft trial
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 50 prosecution witnesses will be called to testify in the money laundering and corruption trial of former Bersatu Information chief, Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, in connection with the Jana Wibawa project, at the Sessions Court, here.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Rasyidah Murni Azmi informed the matter during case management before Judge Rozina Ayob, Tuesday.
“Most of the witness statements are quite long, so the proceedings (trial) depend on cross-examinations by the defence,” said Rasyidah Murni, who handled the case with DPP Nor Diana Nor Azwa.
Lawyer Chetan Jethwani, who represents the Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament, said that the defence team has not received the witness statements from the prosecution, but has received four bundles of documents related to the case, and hopes that the witness statements can be provided to them soon, to prepare before the trial begins.
Rozina said that the trial dates - March 25 to 27; April 29 and 30; and May 20 and 21; June 19 to 21; June 24 and 25; July 10 to 12 and Aug 8 and 9 - are maintained, apart from setting additional trial dates on Aug 19 to 23.
It is understood that among the witnesses who will be called are employees of banks and the Malaysian Companies Commission, as well as politicians.
Wan Saiful, 47, allegedly solicited bribes from one Lian Tan Chuan, as an inducement to help Nepturis Sdn Bhd secure the RM232 million ‘Central Spine Road: Sertik to East Coast Highway Interchange’ project from the government, at the pre-qualification stage. — Bernama