KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has scheduled a 10-day trial next year in the case of Datuk Seri Sim Choo Thiam, who is accused of soliciting and receiving a RM15mil bribe in relation to securing projects from the Home Ministry.
The dates – May 6 to 10 and 13 to 17 – were fixed during a case management before Sessions judge Rozina Ayob here on Wednesday (June 28).
When contacted, Sim's lawyer Hannah Kam confirmed the dates.
During the proceedings, Sim was also represented by lawyers Kee Wei Lon and Low Wei Loke while deputy public prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad appeared for the prosecution.
On May 10, 53-year-old Sim, a company director, claimed trial to charges of soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM15mil to secure projects from the Home Ministry in 2021.
He faces a charge of soliciting a bribe amounting to that sum from Asia Coding Centre Sdn Bhd managing director Hep Kim Hong through Syed Abu Zafran Syed Ahmad.
Sim was also charged with three counts of accepting the same amount in bribes from the same individual.
The offences were allegedly committed at two different locations – the Shaas Holdings office and a parking lot at Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1 here between June and July 30, 2021.
The charges were framed under Section 16 (a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher, if convicted.
