KUALA LUMPUR – Chartering company Pristine Offshore Sdn Bhd became the first company to be charged under the newly gazetted Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
The anti-corruption provision targeting corporations gazetted on June 1 last year was levelled at the company yesterday in Shah Alam Sessions Court.
Section 17A directly imposes corporate liability on commercial organisations for corruption and dishonest commercial misconduct.
Pristine Offshore Sdn Bhd pleaded not guilty on a charge of offering a bribe to ensure the company was awarded a subcontract in oil exploration work.
Pristine Offshore director Abdul Kamal Mohd Mydeen, 70, who is the company’s representative made the plea after the charge, framed under Section 17A(1)(a) of the MACC Act, was read out to him before judge Rozilah Salleh.
According to the charge, Pristine Offshore, in association with its then director, Chew Ben Ben, 64, had corruptly given RM321,350 to Deleum Primera Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Mazrin Ramli, 41, as a reward to secure the subcontract for the company (Pristine Offshore).
The offence was allegedly committed between June 29, 2020, and October 14, 2020, in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong.
The company faced a fine of not less than 10 times the sum or value of the gratification or RM1 million, whichever is higher; or imprisonment for up to 20 years; or both, if found guilty.
Rozilah allowed the company, represented by lawyers Bernard Francis, Chong Ki Keong and Azim Razak, bail of RM200,000 with one surety. Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted.
Earlier in the same court, Chew pleaded not guilty to a charge of corruptly giving the RM321,350 bribe to Mazrin between June 29, 2020, and October 14, 2020, in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong.
The charge was framed under Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act.
He was allowed bail of RM150,000 with one surety and to surrender his passport to the court.
The court set May 25 for mention of both cases. – The Vibes, March 19, 2021
