Ex-Petronas Carigali exec claims trial to 43 charges of graft

KUALA LUMPUR – A former Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) executive pleaded not guilty in two separate sessions courts here today to 37 counts of corruption and six counts of money laundering involving more than RM6 million.

Mohd Amal M. Razalan, 36, entered the plea after the corruption charges were read out to him before judge Rozina Ayob and money-laundering charges before judge Azura Alwi.

For the first to 21st charges, Amal as a construction executive of PCSB was accused of accepting bribes of between RM2,078 and RM 216,903.19 from Majestika Sdn Bhd director Mustaza Zawawi through Maybank Bhd cheques belonging to Majestika and through a MAMN Goldenvision Enterprise Maybank account.

He was charged with committing these offences in abetment with MAMN Goldenvision director Muhammad Nazreen Abd Hamid as an inducement to help Faltech Engineering Sdn Bhd secure civil and structural maintenance work for PCSB.

Amal was also charged with three counts of accepting bribes from SAP House Sdn Bhd project manager Robert Khoo, through three cheques worth between RM50,000 and RM60,000, which were deposited into his Maybank business account, Goldentree Enterprise, as an inducement to review and approve documents related to the verification of work carried out by SAP House involving the contract between PCSB and Faltech Engineering Sdn Bhd.

The accused was also charged with 13 counts of accepting bribes amounting between RM141,738.33 and RM825,503.60 from Khoo through 13 Maybank cheques belonging to SAP House as an inducement to approving a PCSB-Sarawak Operations service maintenance contract.

All the offences, allegedly committed at Maybank Bhd, Petronas Twin Towers, Jalan Ampang here between December 21, 2016 and August 1, 2019, are framed under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 read together with Section 28 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 24 of the same act.

If convicted, he could be jailed up to 20 years and fined five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

In addition, Amal was also charged with five counts of accepting RM798,985.49 through four bank accounts belonging to Nazreen and another one count of using money amounting to RM140,348.61 through two of his CIMB Bank Bhd accounts which were proceeds from illegal activities.

The offences were allegedly committed at Maybank Bhd, Petronas Twin Tower, Jalan Ampang, Maybank Bhd at Dataran Maybank and CIMB Bank Bhd at Jalan Pantai Baharu here, between July 13, 2017 and March 18, 2022.

The charges framed under Section 4 (1) Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613) and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law provides for a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of illegal proceeds or RM5 million, or imprisonment not exceeding 15 years or both, if convicted.

Rozina allowed the accused bail of RM150,000 with one surety with the additional conditions that he surrender his passport to the court, report to the MACC Putrajaya office once a month, and be barred from travelling abroad until the case is completed. 

Azura allowed the accused bail of RM30,000 with one surety

Both courts set February 15 for mention. – Bernama, January 4, 2023