A FORMER senior principal assistant secretary of a ministry was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with three counts of soliciting and accepting bribes in connection with the issuance of tender for biofertiliser supply and delivery to several companies, last year.

Shahrulzaman Jaafar, 43, who is currently the director of the southern region campus of the National Institute of Public Administration claimed trial to all charges.

Shahrulzaman, who was then attached with the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry, was first charged with soliciting a RM2 million bribe from one Wan Nor Izham Wan Nashar as an inducement to help the man secure the supply and delivery tender of biofertiliser under the Production Incentive Scheme for three companies – Endona Corporation Sdn Bhd, Qamari Consultancy Sdn Bhd and Borneo Natura Sdn Bhd – totalling RM118,165,171.65 at a restaurant on Jalan Berjasa in February last year.

On the second count, Shahrulzaman was alleged to have accepted bribes amounting RM85,000 from Wan Nor Izham via a bank account registered under SZA Niaga, in exchange for helping the man get the tender for the respective companies at the Taman Setiawangsa Maybank branch at 10am on July 30.

The accused was also charged with accepting RM40,000 in cash from one Hazrul Hisyam Hassan as an inducement for helping the man get the same tender for KIIK Resources Sdn Bhd totalling RM37,478,572.55 on Jalan Klang Lama at noon, August 17.

The charges, under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, carries a maximum 20 years’ jail or a fine no less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The court set bail at RM60,000 with two sureties and granted all additional conditions requested by the prosecution.

The court set February 24 for mention. – Bernama, January 12, 2021.