By Rahmat Khairulrijal | New Straits Times
A company director has applied to quash a corruption charge against him for allegedly offering millions in bribes to a former minister over the sale of Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd (Menara KL) concessions and shares.
Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd managing director Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh said this during case mention at the Sessions Court here today.
The accused, through his lawyer from Messrs Chetan Jethwani & Co. filed the preliminary objection at the Sessions Court yesterday.
The accused claimed that the charge against him is defective and did not comply with the provisions under section 16(b)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat confirmed that the prosecution had received the accused’s application via email recently.
Counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad and Abdul Hamid Shaikh appeared for the accused.
Judge Suzana Hussin fixed July 18 to decide on the application.
She also ordered all parties to submit their written submissions before June 19.
On April 5, Hamid was charged with offering RM500,000 per year for 15 years to Datuk Tan Ser Lay, 60, for the benefit of the then communications and multimedia minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, at the ministry’s headquarters between July and August last year.
The money was an inducement to approve the acquisition of Menara KL by the accused’s company.
The 49-year-old businessman was released on RM50,000 bail.
In another court, Hydroshoppe was charged with the same offence involving the same individuals before judge Rozina Ayob.
Hamid, who appeared on behalf of the company, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
On Jan 7, two senior directors of a company were remanded for four days to assist in investigation into the acquisition of Menara KL.
The two Datuks were the managing director of the company that was allegedly involved in taking over Menara KL and a businessman who is believed to be the middleman in the acquisition.
An MACC probe had allegedly found that kickbacks — hundreds of thousands of ringgit and a luxury watch — exchanged hands in the acquisition.
The takeover had gone viral on social media. People questioned TM’s decision to transfer full ownership of the tower to Hydroshoppe last October.
Last year, Annuar denied having anything to do with the matter. He shot down the claims.
