Mat Sabu’s aide charged with bribery again

The political secretary to former defence minister Mohamad Sabu was charged again in the Sessions Court today with two counts of accepting bribes totalling RM130,000 from a contractor company last year.

Mohd Azhar Che Mat Dali, 49, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Rofiah Mohamad.

On the first count, Azhar was charged with accepting RM50,000 from Aqsa Solution Sdn Bhd managing director Elias Jemadi Tajudin, as gratification for helping FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd be selected as the strategic partner and maintenance contractor for the ministry’s intelligence system.

He was alleged to have committed the offence in his official car at Lorong VIP, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang in August last year.

On the second count, Azhar was charged with accepting RM80,000 from Elias Jemadi, who is also FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd managing director, through Ikaira Resources director Zainudin Abdul Majid for the same purpose.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Kota Damansara driving range, Petaling Jaya at the end of last year.

Both charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which carries maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat offered bail of RM30,000 with one surety with an additional condition for Azhar to report to the Putrajaya MACC office on the first week of every month starting November.

However, Azhar’s lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein requested a minimum bail on the grounds that his client was no longer working and had to support a wife and seven children, including two who are still in school, as well as his mother-in-law.

The court allowed bail at RM15,000 for both charges and ordered Azhar to report himself to the Putrajaya MACC office on the first week of every month.

The court also set Nov 27 for case management.

On Oct 15, Azhar was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with five counts of soliciting and accepting bribes totalling RM6.35 million.