Wan Saiful trial: Tender invitation sent to three companies, including Nepturis, says witness

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court has been told that invitations for tender for the Central Spine Road Project from Sertik to the East Coast Highway intersection was sent to three companies, including Nepturis Sdn Bhd.

Datuk Zulkipeli Yamat, former director Public Works Department's (JKR) quantity surveying services at the contract and quantity surveying branch, stated that the other two companies were MCS Management Sdn Bhd and CKJ Engineering and Services Sdn Bhd.

The seventh prosecution witness reported the bid prices from CKJ Engineering were RM236,945,478.60, MCS Management (RM236,500,000) and Nepturis (RM236,160,468).

Zulkipeli, a retired government official, noted that the tender evaluation committee concluded that Nepturis's tender, priced at RM236,160,468, was eligible for recommendation and consideration.

"I confirm that the letter of acceptance from JKR to Nepturis, dated June 28, 2022, indicated that the government of Malaysia agreed to accept Nepturis' tender offer at RM232mil for a contract period of 36 months," he said while testifying in Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan's corruption and money laundering trial on Tuesday (May 21).

In response to deputy public prosecutor Nor Diana Nor Azwa's question about the two different values – RM236,160,468 (from Nepturis) and RM232mil (approved by the Finance Ministry ) – the witness clarified that the Public Works Ministry's procurement department initially recommended the bid price of RM236,160,468.

"However, after final approval by the Finance Ministry, the ministry set the price at RM232mill. This was subject to the agreement by both the government and Nepturis before the contract (Central Spine Road Project) was signed," the witness explained.

When cross-examined by Wan Saiful's lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, the witness confirmed that Nepturis' bid of RM236,160,468 was the lowest.

Zulkipeli also agreed with the lawyer's assertion that the Tender Evaluation Committee or the JKR and Works Ministry committees had not lodged any complaints about interference from Wan Saiful in awarding the said tender.

The witness further affirmed that he had never been contacted by Wan Saiful and did not know the politician before this.

Wan Saiful, 47, is accused of soliciting a bribe from one Lian Tan Chuan to help Nepturis Sdn Bhd secure the Central Spine Road: Sertik to East Coast Highway Intersection project from the Malaysian government, valued at RM232mil.

He is also accused of receiving RM6,962,694.54 in cash through his company WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd's CIMB Bank account from Nepturis Sdn Bhd's Maybank Islamic account as an inducement for the company to secure the project.

The Tasek Gelugor MP allegedly committed both offenses at the Royal Lake Club, Taman Tasik Perdana, in April 2022, and at CIMB Bank's Bukit Tunku Branch between July 8 and Sept 30, 2022.

Wan Saiful also faces 18 money laundering charges involving RM5.59mil. These charges include transferring and using illicit funds to pay for a truck, making payments to the National Sports Council of Malaysia and transferring money to various company accounts, including Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd.

The offenses are alleged to have occurred at CIMB Bank's Bukit Tunku Branch between Aug 12 and Nov 13, 2022, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The trial, presided over by Judge Rozina Ayob, will resume on June 19. – Bernama