KUALA LUMPUR – The former political secretary of opposition leader and ex-home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has pleaded not guilty to accepting RM350,000 in bribes linked to a RM381 million tender for police facilities.
Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad, 42, claimed trial to two separate charges against him framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 on accepting gratification.
The offence is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM100,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Under the first charge, Sayed Amir is accused of receiving a RM100,000 bribe on December 4, 2020, at Solaris Dutamas (Publika) from Nexuscorp Group Sdn Bhd managing director Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof to help the company secure the tender.
The second charge accuses Sayed Amir of soliciting a RM250,000 gratification, also from Wan Azhar, on December 16, 2020 for the same tender.
The said tender is for the police’s RMPNET system, which provides maintenance services and supplies spare parts for infrastructure equipment, servers, software and radios.
The Royal Malaysia Police is overseen by the Home Ministry, which Hamzah helmed from March 2020 to November 2022 under two different prime ministers.
Judge Azura Alwi today set bail at RM60,000 with one surety and ordered Sayed Amir to report himself to the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur each month until the case’s conclusion.
She also permitted the prosecution’s request for a court order instructing Sayed Amir against contacting any prosecution witness, particularly Wan Azhar, whether physically or through any other medium, until the case’s disposal.
Deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong had initially proposed a RM100,000 bail while also requesting for the court to hold the accused’s passport.
In mitigation, Sayed Amir’s counsel, Md Yunos Shariff, argued that his client was not a flight risk, pointing to how he has consistently cooperated with MACC’s investigation.
The lawyer also noted that Sayed Amir will be brought to face additional charges at the Shah Alam court tomorrow.
The court fixed July 12 for case mention. – May 23, 2024