SHAH ALAM: Padang Serai MP Datuk Azman Nasrudin has claimed trial to a charge of abetting corruption involving a Kedah state-owned cattle farming joint venture.
Azman is accused of abetting the receipt of RM400,000 in corrupt payments allegedly taken by businessman Amar Assuat Abu Bakar on June 20, 2020.
Amar is said to have received the money from another businessman, Mohd Hassanaim Fauzi, as a reward for helping the latter secure a feedlot project at the Kedah Agro Feedlot Farm from Kedah Agro Holdings Bhd (KAHB).
According to the charge sheet, Azman had instructed the KAHB chief executive officer to issue a letter of offer to Mohd Hassanaim for the project on June 23, 2020, forming the basis of the charge.
He was charged before Sessions Court judge Mohd Nasir Nordin under Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, read with Section 16(a)(A).
Upon conviction, the offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin sought RM100,000 bail and requested that Azman surrender his passport.
Day in court: Azman (centre) arrives at the Shah Alam Sessions Court ahead of claiming trial to a charge of abetting corruption involving a Kedah cattle feedlot project. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
However, Azman’s lawyer N. Surendran objected, arguing the proposed bail was excessive and that there was no justification for the passport condition.
“My client is an elected representative supporting a household with a housewife, five children and an 82-year-old mother,” he said.
In the same court, Amar pleaded not guilty to two charges – soliciting and accepting the RM400,000 gratification from Mohd Hassanaim.
His charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act.
The prosecution sought RM200,000 bail and the same passport condition.
Mohd Nasir ultimately set bail for both Azman and Amar at RM75,000 each with one surety, and ordered both men to surrender their passports.
Amar must also report to MACC monthly until the case concludes, while mention for both cases has been fixed for Jan 13 next year.
Surendran said Azman’s defence team intends to file an application at the High Court to dismiss the case, insisting the charge sheet contains no facts indicating wrongful conduct or bribery.
Outside the courtroom, Azman told reporters he believed the charge was politically motivated, claiming it was an attempt to divert attention from other high-profile cases.
Azman was detained by Kedah MACC on Saturday.
