KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): A former Petronas executive has claimed trial to 37 corruption charges and six anti-money laundering charges in the Sessions Court on Wednesday (Jan 4).

Mohd Amal M Razalan, 36, was charged for receiving bribes amounting to RM 6.1 million from December 2016 to August 2019, among others, as payment for assisting a company to secure a contract with Petronas.

He was accused of receiving bribes ranging from RM2,078.00 to RM825,503.60 at Maybank’s KLCC branch at Jalan Ampang.

Among others, Mohd Amal — in his capacity as then executive (construction) at Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd — is accused of receiving bribes as payment for assisting Faltech Engineering Sdn Bhd to secure a contract for Petronas concerning the provision of civil and structural maintenance services.

He was said to have received the bribes from a Majestika Sdn Bhd director through the bank account of a separate company, MAMN Goldenvision Enterprise, while conspiring with MAMN Goldenvision’s director. 

He is also accused of receiving bribes from a project manager for reviewing and approving documents related to job verification, namely the Job Completion Ticket (JCT) implemented by that company.

All offences are framed under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) 2009, read together with Section 28 (1)(c) of the same Act, and are punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.

If found guilty, Mohd Amal faces not more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification which is the subject matter of the offence, or RM10,000, whichever is the higher.

All the corruption-related charges were read before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob.

Mohd Amal pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Deputy public prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry appeared for the prosecution on Wednesday and told the court that this was a non-bailable offence but left it to the court’s discretion to decide on bail.

Mohamad Fadhly asked for bail to be set between RM1 million to RM2 million, given the severity of the offence.

However, Mohd Amal’s counsel Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican argued for a lower bail, given that his client was terminated from Petronas during investigations last year and is currently unemployed and in the process of setting up a business.

Hasnal added that his client is the sole breadwinner of the family, as his client’s wife is also unemployed, while the couple has two young children. Mohd Amal is also supporting his bedridden father.

Hasnal informed the court that the authorities had also frozen four of Mohd Amal’s bank accounts and other assets.

The court set bail at RM150,000 with one local surety. Mohd Amal had to surrender his passport to the court and has been blacklisted from leaving the country until the disposal of his case. 

Mohd Amal will also have to report to the MACC office once a month as part of his bail terms.

Separately on Wednesday, Mohd Amal was also charged with six anti-money laundering charges before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.

He was accused of receiving and using a total of RM939,334 — which were said to be proceeds of unlawful activity — between July 2017 till March 22.

The charges were framed under Subsection 4(1) (b) Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, which is punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act.

If found guilty, he faces imprisonment of not more than 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity or instrumentalities of an offence at the time the offence was committed, or RM5 million, whichever is the higher.

Judge Azura set bail at RM30,000 with one local surety.

Both cases are set for mention on Feb 15.

It is understood that Mohd Amal will also face additional charges at the Shah Alam court on Thursday (Jan 5).