Judicial commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain set the date after hearing submissions by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Azmi and Rozman’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
Rafique submitted that the court had the power to quash or set aside the charge against Rozman as it was with malicious intent and oppressive, as well as an abuse of the court process and politically-motivated.
“The charge against Rozman, made under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, is without merit in terms of facts and law, as my client had never influenced any decision made by the LLPM (Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd) board of directors,” he said.
Feisal argued that the charge was clear and obvious and the prosecution would prove it during the trial, to start on Aug 11.
“There is no evidence to show that the charge against the applicant is malicious or political, but it is based on evidence,” he said, adding that the court had yet to hear the testimony of witnesses.
On April 4, sessions court judge Rozina Ayob dismissed Rozman’s application to drop the charges against him on grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to do so without a trial being conducted, and fixed Aug 11 and 12 for the hearing.
A week later, Rozman filed an application at the High Court to strike out the charge against him and also an application to transfer the case from the sessions court to the High Court.
On Aug 2, High Court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin dismissed Rozman’s application to transfer the case from the sessions court to the High Court.
Rozman, 57, is charged as an official of a public body or the deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority, with using his position to obtain gratification, namely an employment contract as the operator for Dermaga Merdeka Pelabuhan Labuan for LLPM, in which his father and younger brother had an interest.
The offence was allegedly committed at a transport ministry meeting room in Putrajaya between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.