SHAH ALAM: Former Tekun Nasional managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rahim Hassan was charged with two counts of corruption at the Sessions Court here Monday.
He pleaded not guilty to the first charge of soliciting a bribe of RM36,000 via SMS from Abdul Muhsin Abdul Rahman as an inducement to speed up claims made by Pasadana Sdn Bhd, a registered debt collection company, between 8.30pm and 9pm on Jan 13, 2015.
He also claimed trial to the second charge of accepting the bribe in cash from the same person on Jan 15, 2015, at about 9.30pm at Kelab Shah Alam Selangor at 1A, Jalan Aerobik 13/43 in Seksyen 13 here.
Both charges come under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
The alleged bribery amount is equivalent to 10% of the outstanding amount due to Tekun, an agency that provides macro credit and financing to small entrepreneurs, for November 2014.
It is learned that the company was appointed by the suspect to carry out debt collection from defaulters with over two years of outstanding dues.
Clad in a long-sleeved dark-green polo T-shirt and black pants, Abdul Rahim nodded in understanding after the charges were read to him by a court interpreter.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Aida Adhha Abu Bakar offered bail at RM20,000 for each charge and had the accused’s passport impounded until the case is over.
Counsels Datuk Hasnal Redzua Merican and Muzzamir Merican requested a lower and single bail, arguing that the amount was only meant to guarantee their client’s presence in court.
They also said that their client was a retiree with no asset overseas, therefore there was no worry that he might jump bail and flee the country.
Aida Adhha however said that the amount offered was fair considering the amount of the bribe.
Judge Asmadi Hussin then set bail at RM18,000 for both charges, with one surety, and ordered the accused to hand in his passport.
He also set Feb 8 for case management and set March 13 to 17 for trial.
On Sunday, a team of MACC officers detained the 62-year-old Abdul Rahim at his house in Bukit Bandaraya, Shah Alam, at 5.15pm.
He was first picked up in Kelab Shah Alam on Jan 15, 2015, after allegedly receiving the bribe, but was released after his remand was over.
The MACC only recently obtained consent to charge him.
This is not the first time Abdul Rahim has been charged with corruption. In November 2015, he was slapped with two graft charges linked to his family members. It is learned that those two charges were later withdrawn.
Abdul Rahim was appointed to helm Tekun in 2008, and his contract was terminated in December 2014.
It was earlier reported that the MACC is also checking for links between Abdul Rahim and Datuk Mohd Arif Ab Rahman, who is being probed for alleged corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering.
Mohd Arif is a former board director of Tekun, and also the former secretary-general of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry that oversees Tekun.
On Oct 16, 2015, Mohd Arif was appointed the Rural and Regional Development Ministry secretary-general, and he is still holding the post.
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