Johari Baharum: Reveal Corruption Probe Outcome, Clear My Name

Internal Security deputy minister Datuk Johari Baharum Sunday expressed the hope that the Attorney-General's Chambers would soon reveal the outcome of investigations into allegations that he corruptly received RM5 million to release three criminals held under the Emergency Ordinance, Bernama reported.

The investigation papers were apparently handed to the public prosecutor's office in April. With unrestrained optimism our friend Johari said, "I hope they will soon announce findings of the investigations. I'm confident that I'm innocent. The announcement will clear my name."

There are supposed to be at least 18 cases of serious corruption against top politicians which the A-G has been sitting and pondering upon in the past few years. What gives jolly Johari the confidence that he will be cleared soon? Does the A-G or some top gun in his chambers play badminton with our deputy minister? Or being in the Internal Security ministry is he privy to information about his own case?

"Since the allegation was made in March, I'm in a dilemma and feel uneasy in carrying out my duties as a deputy minister," he said. One can of course sympathize with him when he lamented that if the announcement was made soon, it would facilitate him in discharging his duties as a deputy minister and a member of parliament. That is very true. But in a country where it takes ages and ages for the top prosecution authority to release the outcome of investigations, it would seem very suspicious that only this case should be completely probed and results released so quickly.

On April 20, ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan (then acting ACA director-general) had said that the agency had wrapped up its probe into Johari's alleged corrupt practice.

Johari had denied receiving the money but admitted to releasing the criminals after studying the police reports, testimonies of independent witnesses and views of the ministry's legal adviser.

Let us wait and see if a sandiwara is in the offing.
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