By Sylvia Looi

IPOH: The public gallery of a Sessions Court here was cleared during a corruption trial for the viewing of a video clip showing alleged sexual acts committed by two of the accused.

Sessions judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh allowed an application from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head of prosecution unit, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, to view the clip in camera to save the accused from embarrassment.

The court was told that the sexual acts were allegedly committed at an apartment in Batu Feringgi, Penang, by former Perak Tengah district councillor Zul Hassan, 45, businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail, 31 and Perak Development Corporation technician Ruslan Sahat (now deceased).

Businessman Mohamad Imran Abdullah, 34, who acted as the agent provocateur for the commission, made the recordings using pinhole cameras.

Lawyers who viewed the footages confirmed that it showed two men performing sexual acts on Chinese women.

Earlier, defence lawyer Surjan Singh, objected to the move, saying that the matter had received wide media coverage.

"Why do it in camera now? If you want to dance, dance properly." Zul, Fairul Azrim and Ruslan were jointly charged with former PKR exco members Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, 57, and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52 and former Perak Tengah district councillor Usaili Alias, 56 over the proposed multi-million ringgit development project in Seri Iskandar.

The offences were allegedly committed to help Mohamad Imran obtain the project.

Besides recordings of the sexual acts, the court was also shown footages of how Mohamad Imran wanted to hand over money to Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin on separate occasions but was asked to hand the money to Usaili by them.

Earlier, lawyer for Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin, Mohd Roni Abdul Rahman produced a letter from assembly secretary Zamari Mohd Ramli for the assemblymen to attend the state assembly sitting from Oct 28 to Oct 30.

"My clients request for an adjournment on those days," he said.

The judge allowed the application.

The hearing continues today. -The Star/Asia News Network