KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 Two Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) senior managers pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today, to accepting bribes amounting to RM403,000 and RM23,000 respectively.
Idris M. Shuhud, 47, senior manager of a pipe replacement project allegedly purchased and renovated his house in Bandar Tun Hussein, Cheras with the RM403,000 bribe he received from Penaga Orbit and Genius Response director Kamaruddin Mohd Daud in return for approving Technical Bids Evaluation, Commercial Bids Evaluatian and Services Completion Certificates.
Idris, who was a senior manager at the Hook-Up Commisioning, Development Division of Petronas at the time, allegedly committed the offence in Kuala Lumpur between March 5 2009 and Jan 20 2012. He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) 2009 which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fine of five times the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher.
Idris also pleaded not guilty to four counts of money laundering amounting to RM385,000 through several cheques and cash deposits during the same period.
He faces up to RM5 million in fine, prison up to five years or both upon conviction under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
Deputy public prosecutors Afifah Mamat@Yusof and Mohd Farez Rahman conducted the prosecution.
Judge Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain set bail at RM15,000 with one surety for each count and fixed Aug 1 for remention pending the appointment of a defence counsel.
Meanwhile in the same court, customer risk management senior manager Ishak Yusof, 47, pleaded not guilty to three counts of accepting RM23,000 in bribes as an incentive to supply 125 tankers of liquified natural gas to Erision Chem Sdn Bhd.
He allegedly committed the offences in Kuala Lumpur between Aug 27 and Sept 19 2008.
He was charged under Section 11(a) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fine of five times the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais conducted the prosecution while lawyer Jasvinder Jit Singh represented Ishak.
Judge Ahmad Zamzani set bail at RM8,000 with one surety for each count and impounded his passport. Remention was fixed for Aug 2.
– BERNAMA
