KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman known as "Datuk Roy" and a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer have been charged at the Sessions Court here for allegedly soliciting a RM400,000 bribe in an investigation involving the son of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Datuk Roy, or his full name Mohd Hussein Mohd Nasir, 54, was jointly charged with Mohd Rasyidi Mohd Said, 43, with soliciting for themselves a RM400,000 bribe from one Siti Dalena Berhan as an inducement not to detain Datuk Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin during MACC's investigation on Fakhri Yassin.
Fakhri Yassin is the son of Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president.
The offence was allegedly committed at a steakhouse in Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, between 9pm and 11pm on March 5.
The men also faced a second charge of allegedly receiving a RM240,000 bribe from one Syed Farid Syed Al-Attas as an inducement not to detain Fakhri Yassin under remand during the investigation.
The offence was allegedly committed at a fast food restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas here between 2pm and 4pm on March 6.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 where they face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Mohd Hussein and Mohd Rasyidi did not plead guilty to the charges here on Thursday.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi that the prosecution intended to transfer the case to another Sessions Court as Mohd Hussein would be facing a separate charge there.
"We seek for a transfer under Section 61 of the MACC Act. Bail and mitigation will be brought up at the next court," DPP Wan Shaharuddin said.
Lawyers Fahmi Abd Moin, who represented Mohd Hussein, and Mohd Hezri Shaharil, who represented Mohd Rasyidi, did not object to the transfer.
At the other Sessions Court, the charges before the two men were read again before judge Suzana Hussin.
Mohd Hussein also faced another charge where he was accused of soliciting for himself a RM2mil bribe from Siti Dalena and Syed Farid at a premise in Kampung Melayu Kepong in February.
The bribe was said to be an inducement to have the investigating authority proffer a lesser charge, to change the testimony of the accused to the witness, and to reduce the bail money involved in MACC's case involving Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.
Mohd Hussein was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 year and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
MACC prosecuting officer Selvam T. Armugom (correct spelling) and deputy public prosecutor Nor Diana Nor Azwa offered bail between RM10,000 and RM15,000 in one surety for each of the accused and asked the court to impose an additional condition for the men to report themselves to the nearest MACC office on a monthly basis.
Suzana then allowed bail at RM15,000 in one surety for Mohd Hussein for all his charges and RM10,000 bail in one surety for Mohd Rasyidi.
The court also ordered for the men to surrender their passports to the court pending the disposal of the case and to report to the MACC office once a month.
The case is fixed for mention on July 7.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
