KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 3): Former human resources minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan's criminal trial is slated to start in March next year.
Sessions Court judge Azrul Darus set the date following case management on Tuesday.
Defence counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent confirmed the matter when contacted, adding that the Malaysian Indian Congress deputy president's defence has to be filed by Jan 15 next year.
The trial dates set are March 4, April 12, May 24 to 27, Aug 17 to 19, and Aug 23 to 25.
Saravanan's defence team has insisted on several occasions for the earliest trial date possible.
The ex-minister was charged on Aug 28, 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 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. 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.