FORMER Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) CEO Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner claimed trial to 33 corruption charges involving RM5.71 million at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today. 

Her son, Abdulazeez Wan Ruslan also claimed trial to four charges involving RM160,000. 

Zahrah, who wore a black veil, appeared in the dock with her son, who was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt. 

Both appeared calm as the court interpreter read out their charges, which took over half an hour. 

Zahrah’s, whose contract with CCM ended last July, was represented by Hamidi Mohd Noh, while deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai led the prosecution. 

Zahrah, 60, was released on a RM300,000 bond with two sureties, while her 33-year-old son was released on a RM70,000 bond with one surety. 

Justice Azura Alwi set case management to November 26.

Zahrah, who led the CCM for four years, faces 28 counts of obtaining gratification for giving approval for the SSM Online Networking Entrepreneurs and other programmes. She also faces one charge of abuse of power and two charges for abetting her son. 

She faces up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted of the charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act.

The chartered accountant also faces two additional charges of receiving bribes under Section 165 of the Penal Code, where the penalty is two years’ imprisonment if found guilty.

From the charge sheets, most of Zahrah’s offences involve one Ramulianto Mohram as someone who offered bribes. 

Zahrah’s son Abdulazeez, meanwhile, was charged under the MACC Act for receiving RM15,000 from a Samhan Adnan and RM70,000 from one Mohd Fadly Abdul Hamid. 

He faces further counts of abetting his mother to collect RM25,000 from Big Data Networks Sdn Bhd, and RM50,000 from Prima Arenaniaga Sdn Bhd. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment if found guilty. 

The offences were allegedly committed by mother and son between December 2015 and January this year. 

Earlier, the deputy public prosecutor requested that the bail amount be set to RM1 million. The duo’s lawyer, Hamidi, however requested the amount be lowered to RM100,000 for Zahrah and RM30,000 for Abdulazeez, saying a higher amount would be tantamount to punishing his clients before the trial began. 

The judge instructed both the accused to surrender their passports and told them report themselves to the MACC at Putrajaya every week until the conclusion of the trial. – October 2, 2019.