A SENIOR officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today pleaded not guilty to the charge of misappropriating RM29 million worth of items seized by the agency.

Shahrum Nizam Bahanuddin, 41, was not allowed bail.

Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin set February 18 for case mention.

Shahrum is accused of committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya between December 17, 2018 and April 9, 2019.

Under section 409 of the penal code, the offence is punishable by up to 20 years in jail, whipping and fine.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the accused is detained for two years  in Simpang Renggam prison under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca). 

Shahrum’s lawyer, Ponnusamy Kalaichelvan had asked the judge to exercise her discretion under section 388 of the criminal procedure code to allow his client bail 

Ponnusam said there is no flight risk as Shahrum is married with two children and suffers a slipped disc and nose cancer. 

The prosecution said Shahrum had committed a serious crime. 

Wan Shaharuddin said the accused will soon face a raft of money laundering charges.

In September, three MACC senior officers were detained to assist in investigations into allegations of power abuse and malfeasance in the case of ex-spy chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid. 

In April the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the ex-director of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation a discharge not amounting to an acquittal of a CBT charge involving RM50 million of government funds. 

The case was withdrawn due to new developments.

Her cash and belongings were seized by MACC in 2018.

It was reported that Hasanah had claimed the seized money but found RM29 million missing and replaced with counterfeit notes. – January 4, 2022.