PUTRAJAYA: A former deputy court registrar has been arrested for allegedly asking for a RM2mil bribe to help settle graft investigations against a businessman in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.
Sources said the suspect, who is in his 50s, is believed to have asked for money as a reward to get the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to change the statement given by the businessman to become a witness statement.
It is learnt that the suspect had also demanded the so-called reward to change the businessman’s corruption charges to alternative charges instead.
Sources said the businessman has already been charged.
“The suspect was arrested when he was summoned to the Kuala Lumpur MACC office for his statement to be recorded around 9.30pm on Friday.
“The suspect had served as the deputy court registrar in Putrajaya before his retirement in December 2021,” a source said.
Yesterday, the suspect was brought before Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddinon, who allowed him to be detained for three days until tomorrow.
Kuala Lumpur MACC director Razaliah Ab Rahman confirmed the arrest.
The Jana Wibawa programme was approved by the Cabinet in November 2020, aimed at easing the economic woes of bumiputra contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several Bersatu leaders, including its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, have been charged over allegations linked to the programme.
On March 10, Muhyiddin was slapped with four counts of power abuse at the Sessions Court here involving a total of RM232.5mil in gratification, as well as two counts of money laundering involving RM195mil.
The former prime minister pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
On March 13, Muhyiddin was also charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with money laundering, to which he also claimed trial.
Former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were also charged last month.
