KUALA LUMPUR: A former deputy director of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today to six counts of receiving bribes, totaling RM1,080,000 in 2018 and 2019.
Sabudin Mohd Salleh (pix), 58, then the senior deputy director at DBKL’s Civil Engineering and Urban Transportation Department, made the plea before judge Azura Alwi.
On the first count, Sabudin was alleged to have corruptly received cash of RM700,000 from one Ang Huck Koon through a third party, by the name of B.Chandrasegar, as an inducement to approve payment claims to Juara Cahaya Sdn Bhd for the proposed construction of a new concrete bridge across Sungai Kelang at Jalan Jelatek here.
The offence was allegedly committed at a restaurant at the Bangsar Shopping Centre here between Apr 4 and May 8 last year.
The charge, framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and punishable under Section 24 of the same law, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
He is also charged with corruptly receiving cash of RM20,000 for himself from Lim Hong Jun, who is director of Haneka Sdn Bhd as an inducement for recommending BY Five HDD Sdn Bhd, Sutera Unik Sdn Bhd and Uyin Enterprise to carry out maintenance work of road and drainage infrastructure in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory for 2017 until 2019.
On the third count, Saibudin was charged with corruptly receiving cash of RM10,000, also from Lim, as an inducement for approving the certificate for payment claims to the three affected companies for the work.
For the fourth count, framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, he was also charged with corruptly receiving RM150,000 in cash from one Chia Chee Seng, who is a director of Tegap Elit Sdn Bhd, without consideration that the person had connection with his official function.
The offence was allegedly committed at a house in Ukay Perdana here between Aug 13 and 19, 2018.
He faced an imprisonment for up to two years, or with fine, or both, if found guilty.
On the fifth and sixth charge, Saibudin was alleged to have received bribe of RM100,000 from Wong May Kuan on both counts as an inducement for providing her with three three work permits to carry out repair and upgrading works along Lorong Ceylon and the surrounding areas.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at a convenience store of a petrol station and his residence in Ukay Perdana here on June 9, 2018 and Jan 19 last year.
The second, third, fifth and sixth charge against Saibudin were framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of bribe involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor from MACC Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin offered bail at RM150, 000 with two sureties, but Sabudin, represented by lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, requested for a lower bail as his client, who has high blood, high cholesterol and gout, is the sole family breadwinner with a wife and three children to take care of.
Following which, the court set bail at RM120,000 with two sureties, and also ordered Sabudin to surrender his passport.
Sai budin was also ordered to report himself at the MACC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur once a month pending disposal of the case.
The court set Feb 17 for mention and also fixed 11 days to hear the case with the dates set on July 27 to 30, Aug 3 to 6 and 17 to 19.
Saibudin posted the bail. — Bernama
