SHAH ALAM: A son of former Rural and Regional Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Arif Ab Rahman was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court earlier today with three counts of graft involving a total amount of RM1.32 million.
Businessman Ahmad Zukhairi, 35, was charged before Sessions judge Asmadi Hussin for committing the offences at three different locations in Subang Jaya and Shah Alam.
For the first offence, Zukhairi had allegedly solicited for a two per cent commission from contractor Mohd Safian Mohd Salleh, as a bribe to assist Eramaz (M) Sdn Bhd in securing the ‘Solar Hybrid Rural Electricity Supply’ project to six islands in Sandakan, Sabah worth RM60 million.
He had allegedly solicited the RM1.2 million for his father, who was still serving as the secretary-general then and himself at Grand Dorsett Hotel in Subang Jaya between 5pm and 9pm on March 17, 2016.
The second offence was committed by Zukhairi at Permai Golf and Country Club in Kota Kemuning, Section 31 Shah Alam between 8am and 2pm Aug 18, 2016, where he had allegedly accepted RM70,000 from Zul Fadli Rozi as a payment to assist HH Global Construction Sdn Bhd to acquire a project in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu.
The project worth RM3.2 million, which was still at its proposal stage under the same ministry, was to construct a three-tier recreational square and related works at Persisiran Tasik Pengkalan Gawi, Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu.
Zukhairi had allegedly committed the third offence by accepting another RM50,000 from Zul Fadli Rozi for the same purpose at Garden Course Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam in Sept 2016.
For the first offence, Zukhairi was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, while for the second and third offences, he was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the same act.
If found guilty, the accused can be punished with maximum of 20 years’ jail, and a fine of no less than five times the amount of bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, for each offence.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges, and requested for trial.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Thangavelu prosecuted, while Mohd Arif and Ahmad Zukhairi were represented by lawyers Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, Shamsul Sulaiman and Shafiq Bazari.
The legal counsel applied to Asmadi to move the case to Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, where Zukhairi was also facing a graft charge.
The judge granted the application, and set March 20 for the case mention.