Rolex watch and Vertu mobile phone among bribes for TLDM contract

Two Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) officers claimed trial in the Sessions Court here today to corruption charges involving more than RM2 million.

Captain Abdul Aziz Gaffor, 54, faces seven counts totaling RM1,052,120.60, while Lieutenant Commander Khairul Izwan Mohd Khir, 37, faces five counts totaling RM1,500,000.

They allegedly committed the offences while serving as commanding officer and Material 2 control officer respectively, at the TLDM Armada Supplies Depot in Lumut.

Judge Ahmad Rihaida Rafie set RM56,000 as bail (RM8,000 for each charge) with one surety for Abdul Aziz, and RM40,000 (RM8,000 for each charge) with one surety for Khairul Izwan.

The judge also fixed Oct 8 for re mention of both cases.

On the first charge, Abdul Aziz is accused of receiving a Rolex watch worth RM57,071 from a company owner, Hussin Roslim@Roslind, at Nombor 16, Persiaran Venice Intan 5/1, Desa Manjung Seri Manjung, Manjung in March 2014.

On the second count, he is accused of receiving a Maybank cheque of RM300,000 from Hussin through a Maybank account belonging to AD Julian Lawrence at Maybank, Lumut branch on Oct 26, 2014.

Abdul Aziz is also accused of receiving a telegraphic transfer of RM30,000 from Hussin through a CIMB account belonging to Zuraifah Syahirah Khalid at Lembaga Tabung Haji, Sitiawan, Manjung on Nov 18, 2014.

He allegedly received a CIMB cheque of RM60,000 on Dec 10, 2014, and real-time electronic transfer of funds and securities of RM300,000 on Oct 26, 2014 through AD Julian's Maybank account at CIMB Bank, Seri Manjung, Manjung.

On the sixth and seventh charge, Abdul Aziz allegedly received a Bank Islam debit card worth RM267,904.60 and a Vertu mobile phone worth RM37,145.00 at Nombor 16, Persiaran Venice Intan 5/1, Desa Manjung, Seri Manjung, Manjung in December last year.

Khairul Izwan is accused of receiving RM200,000 and RM500,000 on Feb 9, 2015 and Feb 12, 2015 respectively, from Hussin through an Affin Bank Berhad account belonging to Khairul Azmie Ali Sophian at Affin Bank, Sitiawan branch, Manjung.

He is also accused of receiving RM500,000 and RM200,00 on Feb 16, 2015 and Feb 27, 2015 respectively, from Hussin through an Affin Bank Berhad account belonging to Khairul Azmie at Affin Bank, Sitiawan branch, Manjung.

On the fifth charge, Khairul Izwan allegedly received a CIMB debit card worth RM100,000 from a company owner, Mohd Nasir Abdullah, at CIMB Bank, Seri Manjung branch, Manjung on Jan 7, 2014.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Suffian Jaafar while Abdul Aziz was represented by counsel Zamri Idris, Mohd Fadly Hashim and Collin Arvind Andrew; and Khairul Izwan, by Norhasham Hasan.