KOTA KINABALU: The perjury trial of a former commanding officer of the fifth Malaysian Infantry Brigade Datuk Yasin Yahya commenced in the Sessions Court here yesterday.Yasin, 60, allegedly gave oral evidence during the graft trial of the former Sabah police chief Datuk Ramli Yusoff inconsistent with statements he made to Assistant Superintendent Moses Lawrence at the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) office here on Aug 6, 2007; to another ACA officer Superintendent Premraj Isaac Dawson Martin Victor at the ACA office in Melaka on Sept 8, 2008, and his own police report at Karamunsing police station here on Jan 19, 2007.
He was charged under Section 19 (2) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a maximum five years’ jail or both upon conviction.
The trial is before Sessions Court judge Caroline Bee Majanil, while Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) DPP Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail prosecuted and Yassin is defended by counsel Sugumar Balakrishnan.
First prosecution witness Chief SAC II Datuk Ku Chin Wah said that on Jan 19, 2007 Yasin came to his office at Karamunsing police station to seek advice concerning his (Yasin) land in Tungku, Lahad Datu where illegal immigrants had trespassed.
Ku, who was then the OCPD here, said he told Yasin that the area was not under his jurisdiction. He advised Yasin to lodge a police report and to pass the report to Lahad Datu police station.
On that day Ku asked his personnel to give Yasin a POL55 form on which Yasin wrote the report himself.
When asked by Ahmad Kamal whether he saw Yasin signing the form, Ku, who is now attached to Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, said he could not remember.
Ku also said that the form that was given to Yasin was an empty form.
Anyone can lodge a report at any police station throughout Malaysia and the report would be channelled to the police station where the incident happened, he said.
Cross-examined by Sugumar, Ku said he had advised Yasin that if illegal immigrants were trespassing on his land the police could take action against them.
He said the Karamunsing police station gave Yasin’s police report to the police station in Lahad Datu where the alleged trespass had taken place.
To a question from Sugumar, Ku said he had personally informed the OCPD in Lahad Datu about Yasin’s report but he did not know if action has been taken.
Ku agreed with Sugumar that Yasin is the only one who knew about the report as he (Yasin) was the person who lodged and wrote the report.
Hearing continues today.