Court appearance: Mohd Razali pleaded not guilty to all three graft charges before the Sessions Court. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO) chief Lt-Jen (rtd) Datuk Mohd Razali Alias has claimed trial to three counts of graft involving US$20,000 and RM64,600.
Mohd Razali, 60, pleaded not guilty to all three charges before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin yesterday.
“I ask for a trial,” he said here.
Earlier, Mohd Razali, who wore a dark brown suit, arrived at court with his lawyer and was accompanied by officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
According to the first charge, Mohd Razali was accused of corruptly receiving a US$20,000 bribe from Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq Sheikh A. Rahman as an inducement, in his capacity as the MDIO chief, to approve a certification and acceptance of service for the maintenance and support of the defence cyber system for the purpose of a payment.
He allegedly committed the offence at MDIO, Kem Kementah, Jalan Padang Tembak, between August and November 2024.
For the second and third charges, Mohd Razali allegedly received for his wife Datin Azarina Bakia, 59, two payments from Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq, who was the Intelligence PC Centre Sdn Bhd director, with whom Mohd Razali knew had links to his official duties.
The two payments involved a sum of RM26,800 and RM37,800 for the purchase of return flight tickets to Malaga, Spain, and Estonia, respectively.
Mohd Razali allegedly committed the offences at the same place on Nov 15, 2024, and April 28 last year.
He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code and faces imprisonment of up to two years or a fine or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How said the offences were non-bailable, but it was up to the discretion of the court to grant bail.
“The prosecution offers RM200,000 and sought his passport to be impounded by the court,” Law said.
He also said that the accused had just retired and often flew overseas to attend events, making him a flight risk.
Mohd Razali’s lawyer, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, objected to the bail amount, describing it as “unreasonable”.
He said bail was not intended to be punitive but merely to secure attendance in court.
Geethan also told the court that his client technically only retired last month and objected to the notion that he was a flight risk.
“I ask the court to impose a RM10,000 bail,” he added.
Suzana then fixed RM50,000 in bail with one surety and ordered for Mohd Razali’s passport to be impounded.
The case is set for next mention on March 16.
