TWO senior officers of the armed forces, who were yesterday charged with five counts of corruption in relation to the awarding of Defence Ministry’s projects, today faced more charges over the same projects.

Col Che Ahmad Idris, 54, and Brig-Gen Mohammed Feizol Anuar Ayob, 50, however, claimed trial to the charges, read out separately before Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Yang Zaimey Yang Ghazali.

Che Ahmad was charged in his capacity as the then head of  the ministry’s strategic cyber warfare branch, defence intelligence staff division, with receiving £4,500 (RM25,000) from FEHM Entity Sdn Bhd (FEHM Entity) managing director  Elias Jemadi Tajudin as gratification for appointing the company to provide maintenance service at the division.

He was charged with committing the offence at Kompleks Induk Stride, Taman Bukit Mewah Fasa 9, Kajang on November 22 last year.

As for Feizol, he was charged in his capacity as the then military adviser to the defence minister, with soliciting and agreeing to accept RM150,000 from Elias as an inducement to help submit a letter of intent, dated September 5, 2018, from FEHM Entity to the minister to be a strategic partner and contractor for maintenance of intelligence equipment at the defence intelligence staff division.

Both the offences were allegedly committed at a cafe in Setia Alam in September last year.

All the charges, under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2008, carries a maximum 20 years’ jail and fine of not less than fives times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Yang Zaimey allowed Che Ahmad and Feizol to be released on bail of RM15,000 and RM10,000, respectively, and set November 30 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurdihana Rosdi prosecuted, while lawyers Gooi Soon Seng and Azrul Zulkifli Stork represented Che Ahmad and Feizol, respectively. – Bernama, October 28, 2020.