KUALA LUMPUR: Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who is facing charges for leaking a classified audit report on 1MDB, told the court today that he is seriously prejudiced as the prosecution has not provided him a page of the contentious document.
“Failure to provide me page 98 of the report has prejudiced me as I could not refer to it in my defence,” said the PKR secretary-general who read an unsworn statement from the dock before Sessions judge Zulqarnain Hassan.
Rafizi said the prosecution did not supply him the page nor was he in possession of that material.
“In the circumstances, I am not guilty of the two charges and apply that this court acquits me,” he said in his defence that lasted less than five minutes.
Since Rafizi opted to give a statement, the prosecution could not cross-examine him.
Earlier, a court interpreter explained to Rafizi that he could give evidence under oath where the prosecution could question him, provide a statement from the dock or remain silent.
On Sept 1, Rafizi was ordered to enter defence as the court held that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case on charges under Sections 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(e)(iii) of the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
“Evidence confirmed the document (leaked) was indeed page 98 of the 1MDB final report,” said the judge.
Zulqarnain said Rafizi did reveal the report during a press conference.
On April 8, the Pandan MP claimed trial to two charges.
He was said to have committed the act at Parliament House between March 24 and 28 in the late afternoon.
If convicted, he can be jailed for up to seven years.
The defence contention is that in the charge sheet, Rafizi revealed the entire content of page 98 but the court exhibit showed only four paragraphs.
Prosecution witness Nor Salwani Mohammad, who was recalled to testify, told the court the exhibit only revealed four paragraphs.
“I also confirm that the four paragraphs are from page 98,” said the deputy director of the National Audit Department to a question by defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo.
The defence closed its case and parties had been ordered to file written submissions.
Zulqarnain said he would deliver the judgment on Nov 14.