Sandiwaraesque appeal?

When the ERIC CHIA case first came to court, I was sceptical just based on ONE FACT -- that isthe sum involved as in the charge against the former PERWAJA STEEL chief -- RM76.4million.

When a copany suffered losses to the tune of several billion ringgit, what's RM76.4million in comparision?

Simple arithmetic would tell you they were not going after the REAL FISHES. Someone was being made a scapegoat.

When a teacher LOSES RM5,000 in a classroom, it would NOT add up by the princiapl calling up one "naughty" boy found with RM10 in his pockt at recess and made the "fall" guy, would it? Hey look for the MISSING RM4,900 before you pull up that boy in front of the school assembly to pronounce "guilty", okay!

So, what more Sandiwara do we expect some more? Let's see...:(

From the NST, using a bErnama report~~~

Prosecution appeals against Chia’s acquittal


PUTRAJAYA, THU.:

The prosecution has filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal of Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock, former managing director of Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd, on charges of criminal breach of trust by the Sessions Court yesterday.

Head of the Prosecution Division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, said the notice was filed yesterday soon after the court had delivered its judgment in the case.

Sessions Court judge Akhtar Tahir had acquitted and discharged Chia of the CBT charges involving RM76.4 million without calling for his defence. The decision came after a hearing that stretched over three years.

"The decision to appeal was made because we are dissatisfied with the (acquittal) decision which, in our view, was against the weight of evidence.

"We have yet to receive the full grounds of the decision and the reasons of our appeal will be made known once the petition of appeal is filed," Yusof said at the A-G’s Chambers here.

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail yesterday said that he had instructed his officers to write to the Sessions Court to obtain the grounds of judgment as soon as possible. — Bernama

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From ANWARIBRAHIM, Desi performing a COMMUNITY SERVICE, Aloud? Allowed??Hey, this is a BILINGUAL NOTE< so it lends to helping brush up your Bahasa Malaysia (Desi's too, I admit!) and English (Yours-lah, not Desi's because his's right DOWN DARE!:). NB: his's is exceptional English as t resembles some sound eitting from a blardy dangerous slithery one, Be carrefool, it bytes!:(


KENYATAAN MEDIA



27 Jun 2007



KEPUTUSAN KES ERIC CHIA MEMBURUKKAN LAGI IMEJ SISTEM KEHAKIMAN NEGARA


Pembebasan Tan Sri Eric Chia semalam menjadi satu lagi bukti bagaimana sejak Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menjadi Perdana Menteri beliau gagal mengotakan janjinya untuk memerangi gejala rasuah.



Kesungguhan mahkamah untuk membuktikan bahawa pihak pendakwaan gagal membuktikan kes terhadap Eric Chia langsung tidak munasabah memandangkan wujud bukti salahlaku yang jelas di dalam kes ini. Mutu siasatan yang dijalankan terhadap skandal serius ini juga amat mengecewakan.



Sebaliknya, saya telah mengumpulkan fakta yang cukup lengkap sebagai bukti rasuah dan penyelewengan berdasarkan laporan audit Price Waterhouse Coopers. Bahan-bahan ini telah melibatkan Chia di dalam pelbagai kegiatan bertentangan dengan undang-undang daripada melupuskan dana sehinggalah pembayaran yuran yang tinggi dan tanpa sebab kepada firma guaman Datuk VK Lingam.


Dengan rekod sistem kehakiman negara yang telah tercemar, memang tidak mengejutkan bahawa perbicaraan ini akan berakhir dengan pembebasan selepas sandiwara yang begitu berpanjangan. Apabila wujud bukti rasuah yang jelas dan tidak dapat dipertikaikan Peguam Negara telah mengenepikannya, kesalahan di mana beliau dan Ketua BPR sepatutnya meletak jawatan atau disiasat segera.

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Ketika kita di ambang apa yang dijangkakan pilihan raya wal, rakyat Malaysia sepatutnya memahami niat dan matlamat kerajaan Barisan Nasional dengan jelas. Rasuah masih lagi cara pilihan kita, dan retorik anti-rasuah hanyalah untuk digunakan untuk kempen politik tetapi akan dilupakan apabila melibatkan kepentingan mereka sendiri.


Pada masa yang sama, kita boleh menjangkakan berbilion-bilion ringgit yang diselewengkan daripada Perwaja, Transmile dan lain-lain skandal, wang yang sepatutnya diperuntukkan untuk membasmi kemiskinan, pendidikan dan kesihatan akan terus berada di dalam kocek perasuah dan penjenayah yang terus bermaharajalela di negara kita.



ANWAR IBRAHIM



MEDIA STATEMENT



27 June 2007



ERIC CHIA'S ACQUITTAL ANOTHER MOCKERY OF MALAYSIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Tan Sri Eric Chia's acquittal yesterday offers yet another stark reminder that since coming to power in 2003 Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's anti-corruption drive has been an utter failure.



The Court's determination that the prosecution failed to present a compelling case against the former Perwaja chief is wholly unsatisfactory. At the same time, the quality of investigation over this serious scandal has also been disappointing.



On the contrary, I have adduced substantive facts as evidence of corruption and malfeasance based on audit reports issued by Price Waterhouse Coopers. These documents implicate Chia in a wide range of illegal activities ranging from misappropriation of funds to the payment of exorbitant and unsubstantiated fees to Datuk VK Lingam's law firm.


Given the unreliable conduct of Malaysia's judicial system it was no stretch of the imagination to predict, as I did in 2004, that the trial would end in acquittal after many meaningless hours of theatrics. Where evidence of corruption was clear and incontrovertible the Attorney General systematically suppressed it, a sin for which both he and the Chief of the Anti Corruption Agency should immediately tender their resignations or face immediate investigations.


On the eve of what many believe will be early elections, the Malaysian people should be clear in their understanding of the current government's aims and intentions. Corruption remains the preferred style of doing business, and talk of anti-corruption is merely a banner to be waved at press conferences and political rallies but conveniently ignored when one of its own is brought to task.



In the meantime, we can expect the billions of stolen ringgit from Perwaja, Transmile and other Enron-like scandals, money that should be allocated towards poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare, will stay in the pockets of the corrupt and crooked who rule this land.



ANWAR IBRAHIM