KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Datuk Seri M Saravanan's defence team hopes that the trial dates for the former human resources minister's case can be set at the earliest time possible.
During case management before Sessions Court judge Azrul Darus on Tuesday, defence counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent told the court that investigations for this case began in 2022 and the defence just wishes to set trial dates.
"We hope that the trial dates can be set, any additional documents can be passed anytime in between," he said.
Deputy public prosecutor P Rubini said the prosecution needed another date to hand over additional documents before setting dates for the trial.
She added that 22 sets of documents have been handed to the prosecution. There are several documents, including Cabinet papers, which were still pending.
"The investigating officer (IO) is in the midst of getting those documents," she said.
The court then fixed Nov 3 for handing over the additional documents and setting trial dates.
WATCH: Saravanan seeking earliest possible trial date
In late August, the Malaysian Indian Congress deputy president was charged with allegedly receiving over RM1 million in bribes for approving 1,000 foreign workers for TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd in 2022. He has claimed trial to all three charges.
The charges allege that the monies were received through a Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad in the form of cash and a cheque. Saravanan is accused of committing the offence from June 2022 to July 2022 while he still headed the Human Resources Ministry.
Saravanan has stressed that he had no personal relationship or connection with Syed Amirul but added that Syed Amirul had also made statutory declarations previously, denying Saravanan's involvement in any deals.
He has also questioned how the prosecution could prove their case when Syed Amirul, one of their main witnesses, has passed away.