KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Stadium Corporation (MSC) CEO has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to seven charges of graft linked to a tender for upgrades to the National Squash Centre.
Iliyas Jamil, 42, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before judge Suzana Hussin here on Thursday (June 18).
"I understand. I plead not guilty," he said when asked for his plea.
According to the first charge sheet, Iliyas allegedly solicited a RM1mil bribe from one Yap Yeow Kuen, 60, as an inducement for him, in his capacity as an officer of a public body and MSC CEO, to select Aerolux Power Constructions Sdn Bhd as the successful bidder for the RM8,733,197 tender titled "Upgrading of Courts and Sports Facilities at the National Squash Centre, Kuala Lumpur Sports City, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur".
Iliyas was accused of committing the offence at the MSC office at Stadium Nasional Kuala Lumpur Sports Centre (KLSC), Sri Petaling, on Feb 24.
For the second until seventh charge sheets, Iliyas allegedly received bribes - RM100,000; RM50,000; RM100,000; RM50,000; RM50,000; RM100,000 - from Yap as an inducement for the same purpose of selecting the company to win the tender bid.
He allegedly committed the offences at the MSC office and at a restaurant in Pavilion Bukit Jalil between Feb 25 and April 13.
The accused was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and faces imprisonment of up to 20 years in jail, and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noralis Mat offered bail at RM200,000 in one surety on the grounds that the accused was charged with a serious offence.
She also asked for the court to impose additional bail conditions where the accused must surrender his passport to the court, report his attendance to the MACC office monthly, and to stay away from prosecution witnesses.
Lawyer Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, who represented Iliyas, however, asked for a lower bail amount of between RM50,000 and RM80,000 on the grounds that his client has been suspended from work and still has to support a school-going child.
"My client has given his cooperation in the investigation and there is no record of him harassing the witnesses. I believe he will be in court if there is nothing that disrupts the case," Mohd Yusmadi said.
Judge Suzana fixed bail at RM100,000 in one surety and allowed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution.
The case is set for mention on July 27.
