Senior MACC officer claims trial to CBT of RM29mil linked to ex-spy's case

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) senior enforcer has been charged at the Sessions Court here with criminal breach of trust involving US$6.94mil (RM29.02mil).

Shahrum Nizam Baharuddin, 40, pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge sheet, Shahrum was charged in his capacity as a civil servant - specifically a Grade 44 senior enforcer - whereby he was entrusted with the monies and committed criminal breach of trust involving the said monies.

The offence was allegedly committed between Dec 17, 2018 and April 9, 2019 at the Special Action Branch division chief's room at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters, Putrajaya.

He faces imprisonment between two to 20 years with whipping and a possible fine if convicted.

In submissions for bail, Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected on the grounds that it was a non-bailable offence.

"This is a very serious case involving a huge amount of money, nearing RM30mil. If the court decides to impose bail, we ask for a RM10mil bail in three sureties," he said.

In response, Shahrum's lawyer K. Ponnusamy asked for a lower bail amount, saying that his client is a father of two who suffers from a slipped disc and has nose cancer.

The court did not allow bail, and fixed the case for mention on Feb 18.

This charging comes after the MACC said on Monday (Jan 3) that a Grade 41 anti-graft officer will be charged with the alleged loss of case items that belonged to the Commission.

The case items in question are that of former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation head Datuk Hasanah Ab Hamid, who in April last year was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the High Court for criminal breach of trust involving RM50.4mil of government funds.

The case was withdrawn following a new development.

It was reported that Hasanah had attempted to reclaim the seized money but found part of it missing and replaced with counterfeit notes.

On Sept 21 last year, the MACC had confirmed that three of its senior officers were remanded for six days to assist in the investigation into allegations of abuse of power and malfeasance.