KUALA LUMPUR: The corruption trial involving opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's son Muhammad Faisal will commence in March next year.
Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad set the trial dates for 15 days: March 24 to 28; April 14 to 18; and April 21 to 25.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Ikhwan Zaudii Nordin informed the court that the prosecution had handed over all relevant documents to the defence team.
"The prosecution will present approximately 21 witnesses," he said during the management of the case today.
Lawyer Chetan Jethwani, representing the accused, confirmed the matter and requested a case management date before the trial began to finalise the related documents and witness statements.
The court set Feb 21, 2025 for next case management.
Muhammad Faisal, 40, was charged with accepting the bribe from Izmir Abd Hamid as an inducement to use his influence to have Heitech Padu Berhad appoint Syarikat Rimba Merpati and Syarikat Per My Solutions as its marketing consultants.
Those companies were paid a commission of RM700,000 after Heitech Padu was awarded RM33 million worth of Supply, Rental, Implementation, Training, Support and Maintenance of Security Infrastructure tender by the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
Muhammad Faisal is alleged to have committed the offence at an office lot in a shopping mall at Jalan Dutamas 1 here in March 2018.
The charge, framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of the bribe, whichever is higher, upon conviction.