Datuk pleads not guilty to bribery in KL Tower case

KUALA LUMPUR: A company director, who is a Datuk, has claimed trial to offering bribes amounting to some RM7.5mil over a span of 15 years to expedite the process of taking over the concession of Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower).

Hydropshoppe Sdn Bhd director Datuk Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussain yesterday.

According to the charge sheet, the 49-year-old accused allegedly offered a bribe of RM500,000 per year for 15 years to an individual as an inducement and for the benefit of former communications and multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa to expedite the acquisition by Hydroshoppe.

The offence was allegedly committed at the ministry’s office in Putrajaya between July and August last year.

At a separate Sessions Court, Hydroshoppe also faced a charge as an entity.

According to the charge sheet, the company allegedly committed an offence as its associate Abdul Hamid had offered the same bribe to the same individual for the benefit of Annuar with the same intention.

Abdul Hamid claimed trial as the company’s director.

Both cases have been fixed for next mention on June 2.