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(The Star) - The corruption trial of two former state executive council (exco) members from the Pakatan Rakyat saw the video clip showing sexual acts allegedly committed by one of the accused being viewed for the first time in open court.
On Oct 20, the clips were viewed in camera with the public gallery being cleared. At the onset of the trial on Monday, Sessions judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh allowed the application by defence counsel S. Muthu to determine the identity of the person in the clip. When judge Azhaniz Teh asked whether the gallery needed to be cleared, Muthu turned around to check with his client Zul Hassan, 45, who agreed to allow the clips be viewed by all in court. Muthu then turned to reporters covering the case and said, “Are you happy now?” Former PKR exco members Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, 57, and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52, who are on trial, were seen joking with those in the gallery and offering them a better view of the clips. Jointly charged with the two are former Perak Tengah district councillors Zul Hassan and Usaili Alias, 56, businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail, 31 and Perak Development Corporation technician Ruslan Sahat (now deceased). The offences were allegedly committed to help Mohamad Imran obtain a RM180mil project at Seri Iskandar. Later when cross-examined by Muthu, agent provocateur Mohamad Imran Abdullah, 34, said he could make out Zul Hassan in the clip although the lights in the room where the images were taken were dim. Mohamad Imran, a businessman, said that he could recognise Zul Hassan as he had seen an earlier recording of him. He agreed with Muthu that the images shown in the clip only showed half of the man’s face and his back. Earlier in the morning, Mohamad Imran said Zul Hassan had never asked to be supplied with girls in the three meetings he (Mohamad Imran) had with him in return for securing the project. Mohamad Imran also told the court that he was not aware of a plot by the then Anti-Corruption Agency to topple the Pakatan-led Perak state government. He however agreed that the arrest of Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin had led to the collapse of the Pakatan government. When cross-examined by Asri Othman, counsel for Fairul Azrim, Mohamad Imran said Ruslan was not arrested on two occasions despite him being given money by Mohamad Imran. The hearing continues on Nov 4.
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