Mirza was jointly charged with Pempena chief operating officer (COO) Mohammad Rosly Md Selamat on August 16, with paying RM888,000 for the construction of Restaurant Malaysia Dubai although conditions for its construction were not met.
The men are accused of depositing the money into the account of LCL Interior LCL Dubai on February 27, 2007 at Pempena office in Menara Dato Onn, PWTC.
Mirza’s lawyer, Muralidharan Balan Pillai, informed Sessions Court judge Azizah Mahamud that both the accused wanted to make a joint representation to the AG.
Azizah allowed the application and set for the case to be mentioned in October.
Rejinder Singh Dhaliwal, who was acting for Rosly, said the decision to make the representation was reached after they reviewed documents given to them by the prosecution today, as well as their own documents.
“We want the AG to reconsider the charge base on all the evidence,” said Rejinder.
Mirza, 53, is fighting corruption charges for a second time.
On July 24, 2009, the Sessions Court acquitted and discharged him for accepting dental treatments valued at RM13,860 from a director of a consulting company, despite knowing the company had dealings with him as the director-general of the Tourism Promotion Board.
At a different court today, Mohammad Rosly and Pempena’s former financial controller Lim Khing Tai — who are accused of separate charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM169,700 — also said they wanted to make their representation to the AG.
On August 16, both men had claimed trial to paying RM169,770 to Umi Hafilda Ali as sponsorship for a concert by singer Amir Diab in 2006, despite knowing the payment had yet to be authorised by the Pempena’s board of directors.
Session Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff set their case for mention on December 2.
Lim was represented by Cheow Wei while deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Anas Madzir appeared for the prosecution.
If convicted, all three face imprisonment of between two and 20 years, whipping and a fine.
