KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court here has set March 15 to 17 to hear the case of an ex-political secretary to former defence minister Mohamad Sabu who was charged with five counts of accepting and soliciting bribes, amounting to RM6.35 million, to help a company secure projects by the Defence Ministry.
Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said the court also set March 12 for management of the case involving Mohd Azhar Che Mat Dali.
“The prosecution has informed the court that it will be calling 37 witnesses.”
Lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein, representing Azhar, said the prosecution has submitted documents on the case to the defence in accordance with Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
On one of the charges, Azhar was alleged to have solicited RM5 million from FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd managing director Elias Jemadi Tajudin as gratification to help the company be selected as a strategic partner and contractor for a project by the ministry.
He allegedly committed the offence at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kg Baru, here, on July 22, 2019.
On four other charges, Azhar was charged with accepting RM1.35 million from Elias Jemadi through Syarikat Ikaira Resources director Zainudin Abdul Majid and Aqsa Solutions Sdn Bhd director Ahmad Hisham Mohd Tajuddin for the same purpose.
The offences were allegedly committed at several locations in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, including at the parking area of the official residence of the defence minister, between September 2019 and February last year.
All the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC act, which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years, and fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. – Bernama, February 26, 2021
