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Kasitah freed
HIGH COURT ACQUITS FORMER MINISTER WITHOUT CALLING
FOR HIS DEFENCE ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
K
UALA LUMPUR: Former land and
cooperative development minister
Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam was acquit-
ted and discharged by the High Court
yesterday of committing corrupt practice
and cheating involving shares belonging
to the Sabah Land Development Board
(SLDB) in 1996.
Justice Suraya Othman, who freed Ka-
sitah without calling for his defence, ruled
that the prosecution had failed to make out
a prima facie case on both charges.
“On maximum evaluation of the evi-
dence forwarded during the prosecution
case, essential ingredients of both offences
were not made out on the facts before the
court.
“In the circumstances, the accused
stands acquitted and discharged of both
the charges against him,” Suraya said in
her 73-page judgment.
An elated Kasitah, 62, told reporters
he was relieved and happy and would be
rushing to visit his mother in Ranau before
going for the umrah with his family and
friends.
“I’m very thankful to God and I did not
expect to be freed today after going through
this ordeal since 2004,” he said before be-
ing hugged by his family members and
wife Rosni Ambuting.
Kasitah was charged with using his po-
sition as SLDB chairman for his financial
gain by taking part in the decision to ap-
prove the sale of 16.8 million Sapi Planta-
tion shares held by the board to Briskmark
Sdn Bhd. He was also charged with deceiv-
ing SLDB by omitting to disclose the offer
by PPB Oil Palms to allocate five shares
of the company for each Sapi Plantation
share in the listing exercise.
The judgement on the two charges:
First charge
The prosecution’s contention was that
Kasitah had engineered the sale of Sapi
shares to Briskmark to repay his bank loan
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
» School closure only as last resort pg6
of RM11.5 million with DCB Bank but the
testimony of Briskmark director Datuk
Wasli Mohd Said and accountant Vincent
Chia revealed that RM11.5 million came
from sale proceeds of Intra Oil shares be-
longing to Kasitah.
The evidence of DCB bank officers con-
clusively proved that there was a genuine
sale of IOS shares where Chia had used
his secret profit of more than RM30 mil-
lion in PPB Oil Palms share transaction to
purchase the IOS shares.
30 SEN for delivery to your doorstep
2009 AWARDS
Award winning newspaper
for excellence in
investigative reporting
No. 4823 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)
Thursday
August 13, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com
» Bid to save 1,000 in landslide pg10 News without
borders
Ong: I did not
take RM10mil
The prosecution had mainly relied on
‘loan’ from Tiong
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Trans-
port Minister and MCA
president Datuk Seri Ong
Tee Keat (pic) denied
yesterday an allegation
by Datuk Seri Tiong King
Sing that he had taken a
RM10 million “loan” given
by Tiong.
Wasli and Chia’s evidence which were Tiong, the chief
tainted with self-interest where Chia had executive officer of Port
handled two simultaneous transactions of Klang Free Zone (PKFZ)
PPB Oil Palm and IOS shares in making the turnkey developer Kuala
secret profit. Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB)
Chia had acted for five parties, where and Barisan Nasional
he had represented Briskmark, owner of Backbenchers Club chairman, had told malaysiakini he had
Arkwell Enterprise Ltd, was adviser to “donated” the money to Ong last year. He said the money
accounting firm Arthur Anderson, Kasitah was for activities related to MCA divisions.
Writing in his blog, www.ongteekeat.net, Ong said he was
» Turn to Page 2 not surprised the smear tactics and character assassination
ORIENTALDAILYPIX
against him had picked up pace, especially with the latest
revelations by the PKFZ special task force.
“The allegation by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing that I have
taken the RM10 million ‘loan’ from him for use by the party’s
divisions is obviously made with several motives, includ-
ing diverting attention away from the alleged irregularities
exposed by the task force.
“It could also be meant to create suspicion among my
party comrades that I have pocketed funds meant for the
divisions.
“The fact that he indicated that it was a loan could mean
that he wants the option of taking me to court to further
embarrass me.”
Ong said if he had received pecuniary and financial
benefits for himself or the party, there will be more reasons
for him to protect the interests of the givers, as opposed to
proceeding to expose their misdeeds.
“By doing so, I am risking my personal and family safety
as well as my own credibility,” he said.
“The period mentioned by Datuk Seri Tiong was 2008,
during which I was vice-president (of MCA) until I assumed
the presidency in October.
“The need for me as vice-president to raise money for the
divisions was a non-starter. Later, as president, we already
have access to party funds and allocations. I doubt any
reasonable person would part with RM10 million based on
such a story.”
Speaking to malaysiakini, Tiong, who is also the Bintulu
MP, claimed it was true the rumour about him “donating”
RM10 million to Ong.
He was quoted as saying: “Ong asked me to support him.
Surprised ... Kasitah As a new leader, he needed some funds for activities. We are
and wife Rosni are all smiles
after the court decision. » Turn to Page 2