KUALA LUMPUR: The chief executive officer (CEO) of a statutory body has claimed trial to seven charges of graft linked to a tender for the upgrading of the National Squash Centre.
Iliyas Jamil, 42, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin yesterday.
According to the first charge, 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 Malaysia Stadium Corporation (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 Lum-pur Sports Centre, Sri Petaling, on Feb 24.
For the remaining six charges, the accused allegedly received bribes in tranches of RM100,000, RM50,000, RM100,000, RM50,000, RM50,000, and 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) Act.
The offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat offered bail at RM200,000 with one surety on grounds that the accused was charged with a serious offence.
She also asked the court to impose additional bail conditions where the accused must surrender his passport to the court, report to the MACC office monthly and to stay away from prosecution witnesses.
Lawyer Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, who represented Iliyas, asked for a lower bail amount of between RM50,000 and RM80,000 on grounds that his client has been suspended from work and still has to support a school-going child.
“My client has given his full cooperation in the course of the investigation.
“There is no record of him harassing the witnesses,” Mohd Yusmadi said.
Suzana fixed bail at RM100,000 with one surety and allowed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution. The case is set for mention on July 27.
