Businessman slapped with two more charges over JanaWibawa project

Businessman Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad, who was charged with two counts of corruption yesterday, was slapped with another two charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM4.1 million in connection with a JanaWibawa project at the Shah Alam Sessions Court today.
 
Adam Radlan, 42, who is the Segambut Bersatu deputy division leader, pleaded not guilty to both charges before judge Rozilah Salleh.

He was alleged to have received bribes amounting to RM4.1 million from Lian Tan Chuan and Mat Jusoh Mamat through a CIMB Bank account belonging to Bayu Bumiraya Sdn Bhd, of which he is a director.

The money was allegedly given as gratification to Adam Radlan for helping Nepturis Sdn Bhd and MIE Infrastructure & Energy Sdn Bhd obtain two projects, namely the Klang Utara district head office, worth RM141 million, and the construction of Jalan Sungai Adam to Kampung Banat, Perlis, worth RM47.8 million, from the government.

Adam Radlan was charged with committing the offences at the Jaya One branch of CIMB Bank in Petaling Jaya between Nov 26, 2021 and Jan 5, 2023.

The charges were framed under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same law, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. 

MACC deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai requested bail of RM500,000 with two sureties on each charge and for Adam Radlan to report to the MACC office once every two months, as well as surrender his passport to the court.

Lawyer Rajan Navaratnam, representing Adam Radlan, requested that bail be reduced to RM300,000 for both charges as his client’s account had been frozen and he was supporting four children and a mother.

Following that, Rozilah set bail at RM300,000 with two sureties for each charge and ordered Adam Radlam to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya once a month.

The judge also told the prosecution to transfer Adam Adlan’s passport, which had been surrendered to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, to be kept at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, if the charges at the court in Kuala Lumpur were dropped.

She also set April 14 for mention.
 
At the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday, Adam Radlam was charged with soliciting 3.5% to 7% of the value of the project from Mat Jusoh,  the MIE Infrastructure & Energy managing director.

The money was said to be an inducement for him to help the company obtain a letter of acceptance for a project under the JanaWibawa Programme from the government.

He was also charged with receiving a bribe of RM500,000 which was transferred into his CIMB Bank account by Mat Jusoh as gratification for helping MIE Infrastructure & Energy obtain a letter of acceptance for a project involving road construction from Jalan Sungai Adam to Kampung Banat in Perlis, worth RM47,8000,000, from the government through direct negotiation.

Adam Radlan was charged before judge Suzana Hussin, who allowed him bail of RM120,000 with two sureties and told him to surrender his passport to the court, as well as report himself to the MACC office once a month.
 
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was previously reported as saying that the implementation of the JanaWibawa project was postponed for a review of whether its procurement procedure was in compliance with the rules set by the treasury.

Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said the project, valued at RM5.7 billion, was postponed as there were elements of selective tender or direct negotiation in the procurement process.