KUALA LUMPUR: The director-general of the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia, Datuk Hazri Hassan (pic), has been charged at the Sessions Court with two counts of graft involving more than RM130,000 in funds from the Land Surveyors Board.
Hazri, 57, who is also chairman of the board, pleaded not guilty to two counts of using his position to obtain the bribes after the charges were read out before judge Suzana Hussin on Wednesday.
“I plead not guilty,” he said.
According to the first charge, Hazri is accused of using his position as board chairman to obtain a bribe totalling RM30,201.16 from the funds for his own use.
The act is linked to his involvement in a board meeting that discussed his participation in the 14th Session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management in New York, the United States, from Aug 4 to Aug 9, 2024.
He allegedly committed the offence in a boardroom at Wisma LJT, Lorong Perak, Pusat Bandar Melawati, on Aug 3, 2024.
For the second charge, he is accused of using his position to obtain a bribe of RM105,914 from the board’s funds for himself by participating in the board meeting that discussed his attendance at another geospatial-related meeting overseas in Madinah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between Jan 29 and Feb 4, 2025.
Hazri allegedly committed the offence at a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 31, 2024.
Both charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed bail of RM70,000, with the condition that the accused surrender his passport to the court until the case is disposed of.
“The offence is of a non-bailable nature, but it is up to the discretion of the court if it wishes to release the accused on bail.
“The prosecution has discussed with the defence, and we agree not to object should the court use its discretion.
“Both parties have agreed on the amount of RM70,000 in one surety, and the additional condition,” DPP Ahmad Akram said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Muhammad Amin Othman, who represented the accused, confirmed the mutual agreement with the prosecution.
“If it is allowed by the court, the defence seeks that the bail be paid in stages. RM50,000 for today and another RM20,000 on Friday.”
Judge Suzana granted bail at RM70,000 on one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
The court also allowed for the bail to be paid in two instalments.
The case has been fixed for mention on June 4.
