KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Parti Warisan Sabah's Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli was today charged with power abuse when he was on the Labuan Port Authority board in 2018, awarding a government contract to a company linked to his family members.

Rozman appeared calm when the charges were read to him by the court interpreter in the Sessions Court here this morning.

According to the charge sheet, he is accused of abusing his power when he was the then deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority board to appoint a company — Labuan Liberty Point Management Sdn Bhd — which his sibling and father had vested interest in as an operator of the Labuan Liberty Port.

Rozman was accused of committing the offence at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on March 21, 2018.

He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for the offence of abusing one’s official position to seek gratification for oneself, a relative or an associate.

Section 23(1) which was punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act provides for a punishment of a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine up to five times the gratification amount or RM10,000 whichever is higher upon conviction.

The accused was represented by lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali while deputy public prosecutor  Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted.

After the charges were read, Ahmad Akram informed the court that both prosecution and defence have agreed for bail to be fixed at RM100,000.

Judge Rozina Ayob set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and told Rozman to surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of his case.

She also fixed November 19 for mention.

Prior to his prosecution, Rozman claimed the charge was retaliation and meant to tarnish his reputation before the next general election after he refused to defect from Warisan for a rival political coalition.