KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — A former Sime Darby Engineering senior manager was charged today in the Sessions Court here with receiving corrupt payments totalling RM200,000.
Mazhazmi Jamaludin, 36, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with receiving the money from MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd on December 31, 2008 for allegedly proposing that the shipbuilding company obtain a US$134.2 million (RM416 million) contract from Sime Darby to construct and sell one lay barge as well as two tug and supply vessel hulls.
If found guilty, Mazhazmi (picture) faces a jail term of not more than 20 years, and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the corrupt payment or RM10,000, whichever is higher, under the Anti-Corruption Act.
He is charged with receiving the bribe from MLC Shipbuilding owner Redzuan Goh Mohammed Karian at the shipbuilding company’s office here.
Mazhazmi’s lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman urged the court to set bail at RM10,000.
“Mazhazmi has been present each time the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) asked to record his statement,” said Shamsul.
He also claimed that his client was tortured to give a statement to MACC officers.
“When he (Mazhazmi) was detained (by the MACC), he was stripped naked, blindfolded and asked to do all sorts of physical acts, like standing on one leg in front of his interrogators,” said Shamsul.
“He was told ‘Mampuslah kau nanti’ (You will be destroyed) until he was forced to give a statement as demanded by his interrogators,” he added.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais, however, urged the court to set bail at RM20,000 bail.
Judge Rozilah Salleh set bail at RM20,000, saying: “I think RM20,000 bail is reasonable to secure attendance.”
She also told Shamsul to bring up Mazhazmi’s torture allegations during the trial.
Rozilah fixed January 7 for mention of the case.
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