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KUALA LUMPUR: A former political secretary to former Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu has claimed a trial in the Court of Sessions here on five corruption charges in which he allegedly solicited and received bribes of more than RM6.3 thousand for a contract linked to the ministry.
Mohd Azhar Che Mat Dali, 49, has pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him by Session Court Judge Azura Alwi here on Thursday (October 15).
According to the first charge, he was accused of corruptly soliciting RM5mil from one Elias Jemadi Tajudin, Managing Director of FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd, as a reward for helping the company to be chosen as a strategic partner and contractor for the maintenance of the intelligence system of the ministry.
He allegedly committed the crime at a boutique hotel in Jalan Ampang on July 22 last year.
For the second to fifth positions, Azhar allegedly received RM425,000, RM175,000, RM250,000, and RM500,000 from Elias and two other intermediaries, as a reward for helping FEHM Entity with the same purpose.
The crimes were allegedly committed in various locations in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, including the parking lot of the official residence of the defense minister in Jalan Bellamy, between September last year and February this year.
Deputy Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) proposed bail of RM 500,000 for the five charges.
“RM500,000 is not an excessive amount for bail, as the amount involved was RM6.3mil. This is a non-bail crime and the defendant is not entitled to automatic bail,” he said.
Azhar’s attorney, Ariff Azami Hussein, pleaded for a minimum bond claiming that his client had been unemployed since the motion control order (MCO) was implemented in March.
He said Azhar, who has seven children, was not at risk of flight and had fully cooperated with authorities during the investigations.
“He will not elope as he lives with his family and has two children who go to school. He was only able to raise RM30,000 for bail as he was informed about the charges yesterday,” Ariff said.
Later, Judge Azura posted a bond of RM 300,000 on two guarantees.
The court also ordered the defendant to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya on a monthly basis, surrender his passport and not communicate with the prosecution witnesses until the case was resolved.
The defendant was also allowed to pay half of his bail today and pay the balance next Thursday (October 22).
The case is set for mention on November 26.
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