Court orders Pandan Umno chief to enter defence on 10 bribery charges

June 28, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28  — The Sessions Court here today ordered Pandan Umno chief Abdul Ghani Ismail to enter his defence on 10 charges of bribery involving RM193,512 between May 2006 and March 2007. 

Judge Rozilah Salleh made the decision after finding that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against Abd Ghani, 46. The court also set Sept 13 to hear the defence case. 

According to the first charge, Abd Ghani, who was then a member of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and also MPAJ's Tender Committee member, was accused of accepting a bribe of RM24,189 from a contractor, Abdul Rahman Yaacob (now deceased).

The bribe was as an inducement for helping Abdul Rahman to secure the tender for solid waste collection service in Taman Lembah Maju and Taman Kencana and another tender for cleaning works in Pandan Cahaya from MPAJ. 

Abd Ghani was alleged to have committed the offence at Restoran Islah Tomyam, Jalan 5/76B, Desa Pandan here at around 9 pm on Aug 4, 2006.  

For eight other charges, Abd Ghani was accused of accepting bribes of between RM10,189 and RM24,189, totalling RM169,323, from Abdul Rahman in front of Block E 15, Jalan 4/76B, Desa Pandan here between Oct 20, 2006 and March 31, 2007. 

For the 10th charge, Abd Ghani was accused of accepting a bribe in the form of an appointment of Syarikat Lembah Rimbun, in which he has an interest, as the sub-contractor to Syarikat Dwisakti Mewah Sdn Bhd.  

The appointment of the company was an inducement for him to help Syarikat Dwisakti Mewah Sdn Bhd to secure the tender for solid waste disposal works in Bandar Pandan Indah from MPAJ. 

He was alleged to have committed the offence at No. 27, Jalan Pandan 7, Pandan Jaya on May 1, 2006.

He was charged for all offences under Section 11(a) and Section 10(a)(aa) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 (Act 575) which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Roziza Sidek of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuted while Abd Ghani was represented by counsel Md Yunos Shariff. — Bernama