Barisan Nasional and Umno candidate for Permatang Pasir, Rohaizat Othman was actually facing not one but three charges of misconduct.

permatang pasir by election 180809 rohaizat othman.jpg It is learnt that the two pending cases however, may not be heard, as Rohaizat (right) had already been found guilty and struck off the rolls on the first case.

A source confirmed that the two cases had been adjourned 'sine die' (adjourned without a date to be fixed).

"I can confirm there are three complaints lodged against Rohaizat including the allegations on the cooperatives fiasco involving RM161,000 owed to Koperasi Pekebun Getah Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd."

"However, no action has been taken on the two other complaints as Rohaizat had been disbarred for the first allegations. The two complaints maybe valid or it may not be," said the source when contacted by Malaysiakini .

It is not immediately known what the two remaining cases are or whether they involved monetary matters as with the first case.

It is also reliably learnt that Rohaizat had also been fined twice for being allegedly late in renewing his practising certificate.

Malaysiakini contacted the Disciplinary Board, but it refused to divulge details on the two charges against Rohaizat.

"It is private and confidential," a spokesperson from the board said.

Struck from Advocates and Solicitors Roll

Rohaizat, 38, who is also a syariah legal advisor, had been removed from the Roll of Advocates and Solicitors, on March 7, 2008, after the Disciplinary Board had found him guilty of misconduct.

This follows a complaint, that Rohaizat failed to refund almost RM161,000 to the co-operatives.

NONE Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had on Wednesday defended Rohaizat and took the Bar Council to task for making such revelations.

Muhyiddin had said the Umno leadership was convinced that Rohaizat was not guilty of any wrongdoing and therefore the question on whether he was eligible to contest or not does not arise.

This led to the Bar Council to issue a statement yesterday where board chairman George Varughese had said the Disciplinary Board is an independent body and that the council was also authorised to issue statements on behalf of the board.

Rohaizat's former partner, Yusri Isahak had vehemently refuted claims by Umno leaders that the party candidate was innocent from any wrongdoings.

"It's a blatant lie to say that he never knew anything about the cooperative land and money transactions. Apart from me, he was also the legitimate signatory of the company accounts.