Azeez's remand ends today, lawyer confirms
Police had applied to extend the remand by three days, but his team had strongly objected to the extension.
KUALA LUMPUR - Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, who was remanded for two days to assist investigations into a fraud case linked to TH hibah grants, will not have his remand extended after the period ended on Thursday.
His lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad said Abdul Azeez was expected to be released at around 5pm.
According to Amer, police had applied to extend the remand by three days, but his team had strongly objected to the extension on the grounds that everything could be done without needing the person of interest to be held in remand.
"We are always ready to cooperate if needed.
"So if there is a need for him to appear to assist investigations, he (Abdul Azeez) is ready to come forward, so there is no need for him to be detained further," he told reporters at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters (IPD) here on Thursday.
He said Abdul Azeez had completed giving his statement over the two-day remand process for investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
He added that the former Baling MP had cooperated with the authorities more than 10 times and for this session, he had already given his statement.
"This session, he gave very good cooperation to the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID). If needed, he is ready to be called to Bukit Aman or any other station to assist investigations.
"There is no need for him to be held in remand any further," he said.
Abdul Azeez pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Wednesday to a charge of using his position to obtain a chairmanship of a company with a salary of RM690,000, 12 years ago.
He was accused of committing an offence under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act.
On the same day, he and two former TH officers were remanded for two days to assist police investigations into the fraud case linked to TH hibah grants.
Meanwhile, Amer also raised the issue of the lock-up attire and handcuffs used on the Umno Supreme Council (MKT) member while he was at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Wednesday.
"That happened because our client was under police detention and custody for the remand proceedings concerned.
"The defence complied with the police's standard operating procedure (SOP), which requires any individual under remand detention to wear lock-up attire and be handcuffed when brought to any location.
"Our client only followed the instructions and SOP set by the police. Therefore, there is no issue of any choice of clothing arising, as he was under police remand detention at the time," he said.
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