(The Star) - The prosecution has withdrawn its appeal against the acquittal of senior lawyer Rosli Dahlan from a charge of failing to declare his assets in 2010 at the High Court here.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Sazali Mohamad informed High Court Judge justice Mohd Azman Husin that the prosecution was withdrawing their appeal against Rosli, 51.
Justice Mohd Azman then recorded the application by Ahmad Sazali in the presence of all parties Thursday.
Rosli was represented by Datuk K. Kumaraendran.
On Dec 20, 2010, Rosli who was the counsel for former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff, was acquitted by a Sessions Court to a charge of failing to disclose information regarding his assets.
In his judgement, Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Katar said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Rosli.
Abu Bakar said the court found that the prosecution had failed to prove the second prosecution witness, DPP Anthony Kevin Morais (from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), had reasonable grounds before issuing notices against Rosli.
He said the prosecution also failed to prove that Rosli was an associate of Datuk Ramli Yusuff.
Rosli was charged with failure to comply with an Anti-Corruption Act 1997 notice dated July 17, 2007, requiring him to disclose information in writing and under oath on every asset, movable or otherwise that he owned or had an interest in and all sources of his income and revenue.
Outside the courtroom, Rosli said the prosecution should have informed him earlier on their wish to withdraw the appeal.
He said doing it at the last minute was unfair.
“However, it is a birthday gift for me as my birthday falls this month,” he added.
On March 12, 2009, Ramli was acquitted by the Sessions Court of three counts of failing to disclose information on the ownership of 20,000 Telekom Malaysia Berhad shares, 154,000 Permaju Industries Berhad shares and two office lots in the city worth RM1,032,840.
On July 27, 2008, the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court freed him of a charge of abusing his powers in 2007, for allegedly using a police Cessna plane for his private use.
