This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 3, 2019 - October 9, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) chief executive officer Datuk Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner claimed trial at the Sessions Court yesterday to all 33 corruption charges involving a total of RM5.35 million in relation to the approval of SSM-related projects in 2015-2019.

Her son, Abdulazeez Wan Ruslan, also claimed trial to four charges for receiving RM364,000.

Wearing a pastel blue shirt and a dark green headscarf, Zahrah, 60, pleaded not guilty to all charges before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.

While the charges against Zahrah and Abdulazeez were read separately, Justice Azura, however, allowed the application by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Allan Suman Pillai for a joint trial.

For charges 1 to 10, Zahrah allegedly received a total of RM1.009 million from Ramulianto Mohram through Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri for approving 10 separate applications to organise SSM Online Networking Entrepreneurs programmes in nine states between December 2015 and November 2018.

For charges 11 to 21, Zahrah was alleged to have received another RM3.67 million from Ramulianto between April 2018 and January 2019.

The alleged kickbacks to Zahrah were for approving the appointment of four companies to undertake SSM’s Commercial LED Advertisement Sign Board Services Programme across four states, and for renewing the contracts for three of the companies.

For charges 22 to 27, Zahrah allegedly received RM400,000 from Ramulianto between March 2017 and March 2019 for approving six applications to organise SSM’s “Youngpreneurs, Go!” carnivals across six states.

Under the 28th charge, Zahrah was accused of receiving RM200,000 from Ramulianto in May 2018 for approving the appointment of Marikaya Enterprise as the event manager for the 2018 SSM BizFair in Sabah.

For charge 29, Zahrah allegedly helped her son Abdulazeez receive RM279,000 in kickbacks between 2015 and 2017 by selecting tenders by Mohd Fadzly Abdul Hamid for certain projects in which Abdulazeez had interests in.

For charges 30 and 31, Zahrah was accused of being complicit with Abdulazeez, who accepted bribes amounting to RM85,000 in February and March 2018 over the appointment of two companies — one to develop the “Online Networking Entrepreneurs” portal, and the other to organise the 2018 SSM BizRun.

Under charges 32 and 33, Zahrah was accused of receiving RM75,000 from two companies with official engagement with SSM. She allegedly received the money in August and September 2017 on behalf of Skateboard Development Malaysia Pit, an organisation owned by Abdulazeez.

All charges read against Zahrah were filed under Section 24(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, each carrying a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe.

Meanwhile, Abdulazeez, 33, faces two bribery charges under the same act for allegedly receiving RM85,000 in bribes in February and March 2018.

He also faces two charges under Section 109 of the Penal Code (read with Section 165) for allegedly receiving the RM75,000 in August and September 2017.

The two final charges under the Penal Code each carry a maximum jail term of two years plus a fine, or both.

DPP Allan requested for a bail of RM1 million split by half for each of the accused, however, lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, who is representing the duo, requested for a total bail of RM100,000.

Hamidi’s request was on the ground that Zahrah is a retiree with monthly pension of under RM3,000, and that she is also “practically” a single mother as her husband is in New Zealand.

Abdulazeez, meanwhile, just had a baby girl and his monthly liabilities amount to RM9,000, taking into account his seized businesses, properties and vehicle, Hamidi argued.

The bank accounts of both the accused are also frozen, he added.

Justice Azura settled with bail of RM300,000 for Zahrah with two sureties, while Abdulazeez’s bail was set at RM70,000 with one surety.

The passports of both the accused were seized, and they will have to report to the MACC in the first week of each month. Case management is set on Nov 26.