Two senior MAF officers charged with corruption again

SHAH ALAM – Two senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), who were charged with five counts of corruption each at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday, for accepting gratification in connection with the awarding of Defence Ministry projects, were brought to the sessions court here to face more charges over the same projects.

Colonel Che Ahmad Idris, 54, and Brigadier-General Mohammed Feizol Anuar Ayob, 50, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read separately before judge Yang Zaimey Yang Ghazali.

Che Ahmad was charged in his capacity as the then head of  the Strategic Cyber Warfare Branch, Defence Intelligence Staff Division, at the Defence Ministry, with receiving about RM25,000 from FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd (FEHM Entity) managing director Elias Jemadi Tajudin as gratification for appointing the company to provide maintenance at the division.

He was charged with committing the offence at Kompleks Induk Stride, Taman Bukit Mewah Fasa 9, Kajang on Nov 22 last year.

Mohammed Feizol Anuar, was charged in his capacity as the then military adviser to the Defence Minister, with soliciting and agreeing to accept RM150,000 from Elias Jemadi as an inducement to help submit a letter of intent, dated Sept 5, 2018, from FEHM Entity to the Defence Minister to be a strategic partner and contractor for maintenance of intelligence equipment at the Defence Intelligence Staff Division.

Both the offences were allegedly committed at a cafe in Setia Alam in September 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 fives times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

Yang Zaimey allowed Che Ahmad and Mohammed Feizol Anuar to be released on bail of RM15,000 and RM10,000, respectively, and set Nov 30 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurdihana Rosdi prosecuted, while lawyers Gooi Soon Seng and Azrul Zulkifli Stork represented Che Ahmad and Mohammed Feizol Anuar, respectively. – Bernama, October 28, 2020