New Straits Times quoted judicial commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain as saying the charge was legally valid and that the public prosecutor carried out legal and evidentiary assessments to prosecute Rozman.

She also said that if the charge was politically motivated, Rozman would have the opportunity to refute the prosecutor’s case in court.

“At this stage, it is premature to drop the charge. Therefore, the court cannot allow this application,” she said.

The Warisan MP’s two-day trial proceeds today at the sessions court before judge Rozina Ayob.

Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali represented Rozman while the prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi.

On April 4, Rozina dismissed Rozman’s application to drop the charge against him on grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to do so without a trial being conducted. She fixed today and tomorrow for the hearing.

A week later, Rozman filed an application in 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 Jamil Hussin dismissed Rozman’s application to transfer the case.

Rozman, 57, is charged with using his position to obtain gratification as an official of a public body, or the deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority, 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 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission 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.