Ex-Ministry officer charged with soliciting bribes for NKRA projects

A former officer with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry was charged in the Sessions Court here today with soliciting bribes for projects under the National Key Result Area (NKRA), worth RM18 million.

Hazmi Samsudin, 39, who was with the ministry's NKRA Unit when the alleged offence was committed, however, pleaded not guilty.

He was alleged to have solicited the bribes of 10 per cent on each of the for the projects, which included upgrading and repair of community halls, surau and mosques through an individual by the name of Zainal Arifin Lahuri.

It was as an inducement for him to obtain the approval of the ministry's secretary-general to appoint a local Class F contractor for the projects concerned.

The offence was allegedly committed at an address at Jalan PH 2, Putra Heights, Sungai Merab Luar, Bandar Baru Bangi, Hulu Langat, Selangor, at the end of 2010.

The charge, under Section 16(a)(B)of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission 2009, carries a maximum imprisonment for 20 years and fine amounting to five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, which ever is higher, if found guilty.

Last June 20, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, Hazmi had pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to six charges of accepting bribes of almost RM600,000.

Judge Datuk Noradidah Ahmad ordered today's case to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be heard jointly with the other case.

Deputy public prosecutor Khairul Anuar Wahab prosecuted, while lawyer Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad Kassim represented Hazmi.