Man faces graft charges involving undersea tunnel project

PUTRAJAYA: A 38-year-old businessman will face three cheating charges when he is brought to court today for allegedly receiving RM19mil to help settle graft investigations into the Penang undersea tunnel project.

The man, a Datuk Seri, will be charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code after the Attorney General’s Chambers gave prosecutors the green light to haul him to court.

He will be charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court at 9am today.

Sources said he was remanded in February following an investigation by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) over having received money from the main contractor of the undersea tunnel project.

Apparently, the man claimed that he could help them settle an investigation by the MACC.

“The company had paid the man RM19mil in stages sometime between July and August 2017,” said a source.

It is learnt that the man received his first payment of RM2mil in July 2017 while the second payment of RM15mil was made later in the same month.

The remaining RM2mil was paid in August the same year, and all transactions took place within the Klang Valley, said the same source.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed that the man would be charged.

Meanwhile, the MACC remanded the political secretary of a minister for four days in a bribery probe where the officer allegedly received a luxury watch worth RM28,000 as a gift.

Magistrate Ahmad Asyraf Mohammad Kamal allowed the 47-year-old to be detained until April 5.

He will be investigated under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act.

The suspect arrived at the Putrajaya Court complex at 9.10am, wearing the usual orange MACC lock-up garb.

According to sources, the suspect allegedly received the expensive watch from a developer.

In return, the political secretary was to help the developer secure projects from the ministry,

The suspect was arrested at the MACC headquarters on Monday after he was called in for questioning.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub on Monday confirmed that his political secretary had been hauled up by the MACC.