Tuduhan ubah wang haram jejas reputasi, bebankan keluarga, kata Shahrir

Former Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Samad stated that the corruption charges against him have severely tarnished his reputation and have put emotional strain on his family, particularly as he was caring for his critically ill daughter. The charges, filed by former Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, Latheefa Koya, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), caused the public to perceive Shahrir as lacking integrity.

He emphasized that the criticism he received was not due to political differences but because the charges were based on a different set of political views. His wife and daughter had to read and listen to the accusations against him, which took a toll on them as well. Shahrir, 75, filed a RM10 million lawsuit against Thomas, Latheefa Koya, and the government, alleging perjury, misconduct in public office, and a criminal conspiracy.

The trial was postponed multiple times due to his daughter's cancer treatment, and a portion of his bank account was frozen for over three years before being returned. Shahrir denied the charges were motivated by revenge and emphasized that the prosecutor's power, seizure of assets, and prosecution are significant powers that should only be used after thorough investigation.

Thomas denied the charges in his defense, stating he had received legal training and reviewed the investigation report before deciding to prosecute. The court's main issue was whether Shahrir was charged after a proper and thorough investigation. The lawsuit originated from a RM1 million check received from former Prime Minister Najib Razak for the restoration of Puri Langkasuka residential project in Johor.

However, the charges were dismissed by the High Court after the prosecutor withdrew the case. Thomas, who served as state Attorney-General from June 4, 2018, to February 28, 2020, denied the charges, including the one related to misconduct in public office, and stated that he resigned from the position on February 28, 2020, while Shahrir's criminal trial began on July 26, 2022.