KUALA LUMPUR: The Chief Executive Officer of Stadium Malaysia Corporation (PSM) was charged in the Sessions Court here today with seven counts of corruption totaling RM1.45 million in relation to the RM8.7 million tender to upgrade the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre.
Iliyas Jamil, 42, pleaded not guilty after all charges were read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.
According to the first charge, Iliyas is accused of soliciting a bribe of RM1 million for himself from Yap Yeow Kuen, 60, at the Stadium Malaysia Corporation Office, Level 2, Kuala Lumpur Sports Center (KLSC) National Stadium, Sri Petaling here, on Feb 24.
The money was in return for the accused agreeing to choose Yap’s company, Aerolux Power Constructions Sdn Bhd, to win the tender for the Upgrading of Sports Courts & Facilities Project at the National Squash Centre, Kuala Lumpur Sports City Bukit Jalil here, worth RM8,733,197.
The charge was brought under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
For the second to seventh charges, Iliyas is charged with receiving a cash bribe of RM450,000 from Yap as a reward for choosing Aerolux Power Constructions to win the project tender.
The accused is charged with committing the offence at the PSM office and a restaurant in Sri Petaling, between Feb 25 and April 13, under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24 (1) which provides for the same punishment.
In today’s proceedings, the prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Noralis Mat while the accused was represented by lawyer Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff.
Earlier, Noralis offered bail of RM200,000 with one Malaysian surety taking into account the status of the accused and the seriousness of the offence.
“Our side is also requesting additional conditions, namely that the accused’s travel documents be submitted to the court, report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office once a month and not interfere with prosecution witnesses,” he said.
Mohd Yusmadi, on the other hand, applied for bail of between RM50,000 and RM80,000 as his client is still young and has a child who is still in school and is currently suspended from duty.
Suzana allowed Iliyas to be bailed at RM100,000 with a Malaysian surety and allowed the additional conditions requested by the prosecution and not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses until the case is concluded.
The court also set July 27 for mention of the case for the submission of documents.
— BERNAMA
