KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): Senior lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik is now the lead defence counsel in businessman Datuk Seri Sim Choo Thiam's corruption case.
Hisyam confirmed the matter with the media when contacted, following a case mention before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob on Wednesday (June 14).
The lawyer also said that they had sent a letter dated June 6 to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over Sim's four charges of asking and receiving RM15 million in bribes two years ago, in order to help a company secure projects with the Home Ministry.
"We sent a letter to the MACC dated June 6, asking for better particulars of the charges, as they are currently vague," he told the media.
The defence has yet to receive a reply from the anti-graft agency on the letter.
Deputy public prosecutor Abd Muntaqim Abdul Aziz who attended the proceedings on Wednesday also told the media that some documents had been exchanged between the parties.
The court has set June 28 for the next case mention.
Sim, who was charged last month, faces one charge of soliciting a RM15 million bribe from Asia Coding Centre Sdn Bhd managing director Hep Kim Hong as inducement for then home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to assist Asia Coding to secure projects from agencies under the ministry.
According to the charge, Sim asked Hep for the amount through another person, Syed Abu Zafran Syed Ahmad.
The fifty-three year old businessman also faces three charges of receiving RM3.5 million, RM5.5 million and RM6 million from Hep as inducement for Hamzah to assist Asia Coding to secure projects from agencies under the ministry.
The offence was alleged to have also occurred in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur in June and July 2021.
All charges are framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries up to 20 years' jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The High Court had set bail of RM1 million.
In a response to the charge, Hamzah, who is now the leader of the opposition bloc, said that he was surprised that his name was mentioned in the charge, and that it was a political ploy to tarnish his reputation.