The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur has set March 15 to 17 to hear the case of the ex-political secretary to former defence minister Mohamad Sabu who was charged with five counts of accepting and soliciting bribes amounting to RM6.35 million to help a company to secure projects by the ministry.

Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said the court has also set March 12 for management of Mohd Azhar Che Mat Dali’s case.

“The prosecution has also informed the court that they will be calling 37 witnesses,” he told reporters after the case came up for mention today before judge Rozina Ayob.

Lawyer Ariff Azami Hussein, representing Azhar, said the prosecution had submitted documents on the case to the defence in accordance with Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Azhar was alleged to have solicited RM5 million from FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd managing director Elias Jemadi Tajudin as gratification to help the company be selected as a strategic partner and contractor for a project by the defence ministry.

He was charged with committing the offence at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kampung Baru, on July 22, 2019.

On the four other charges, Azhar was charged with accepting RM1.35 million from Elias Jemadi through a director of Syarikat Ikaira Resources, Zainudin Abdul Majid, and Aqsa Solutions Sdn Bhd director Ahmad Hisham Mohd Tajuddin for the same purpose.

The offences were allegedly committed at several locations in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, including at the parking area of the official residence of the defence minister, between September 2019 and February 2020.

All the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.