An anti-corruption group has urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers to explain why Bersatu leader Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was acquitted of his five corruption charges after paying a money laundering compound.
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said there was a discrepancy in the decision as not all offences were compoundable under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).
“While Section 92(1) of Amla allows for compounding of any offence under the Act, there is no equivalent provision under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
“Section 92 of Amla makes it exceptionally clear that this procedure only applies to offences under it, so how can the prosecution use that provision to justify withdrawing the five charges under Section 16 of the MACC Act,” it said in a statement.
The NGO said this raised concerns about the criminal justice system’s integrity.
It urged the AGC to clarify the matter, and called for the drafting of prosecutorial guidelines to ensure that criminal proceedings are conducted in the interest of justice.
“C4 calls upon the AGC to provide more clarity on the perceived discrepancy in the decision to withdraw all charges against Adam Radlan,” it said.
On Wednesday, Adam Radlan was acquitted of all 12 corruption and money laundering charges after paying a compound of RM4.1 million as part of his representations accepted by the prosecution.
The prosecution had requested that the court grant Adam Radlan a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, but his lawyer sought an acquittal, arguing that the prosecution could take no further action on the charges following the payment of the compound.
Adam Radlan had been charged with five counts of soliciting and accepting up to RM9.9 million in bribes to help two companies secure projects linked to the Perikatan Nasional government’s Jana Wibawa initiative.
He also faced seven charges of laundering more than RM3 million.
Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi had also asked MACC to clarify if corruption charges can be compounded following Adam Radlan’s acquittal.
