Wednesday July 25, 2012

Ex-Selayang council head to enter graft charge defence

By NURBAITI HAMDAN
nurbaiti@thestar.com.my

SHAH ALAM: Former Selayang Municipal Council president Bakaruddin Othman has been ordered by a Sessions Court here to enter his defence on a graft charge.

Judge Asmadi Hussin said the prosecution had proven the charge against the accused.

Bakaruddin, 58, was alleged to have abused his position to approve RM26,500 for renovation work on his house near Batu Caves.

He is alleged to have taken part in the meeting on Oct 27, 2001 that approved the allocation despite having an interest in the matter.

Bakaruddin, who is now attached with the Public Services Department as a diplomatic officer, allegedly committed the offence between June 2001 and April 2002.

He faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less then five times the bribe amount if convicted.

Lawyers Akbardin Abdul Kader and Jagjit Singh represented the accused.

The defence trial is fixed for Aug 9 and 10.