Graft charge over fertiliser


KUALA LUMPUR: A former National Farmers Association (Nafas) officer has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to receiving a total of US$300,000 (RM1.32mil) in bribes from a Singaporean fertiliser supplier company.

Nordin Ibrohim, 77, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out here yesterday.

According to the charge sheets, Nordin allegedly received the bribes – US$200,000 (RM880,000) and US$100,000 (RM440,000) – from Kim Jong Kwa, who was a company director at Sung Chang Asia Pte Ltd, as inducement for helping the company be appointed as the supplier for fertiliser for padi farmers under Nafas.

The offences were allegedly committed at a bank in Plaza Mont Kiara on Nov 16 and Dec 21, 2022.

Nordin was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and faces a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Prosecuting officer Abdul Muntaqim Abdul Aziz from the MACC offered bail of between RM200,000 and RM300,000 in one surety.

He sought for the court to impose additional conditions that the accused must surrender his passport until the disposal of the case, to report himself to the nearest MACC office and not to harass the prosecution witnesses.

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“This is no regular offence as it involves government funds. When there is corruption, work and investment opportunities are affected and business procedures become difficult,” Abdul Muntaqim said.

Lawyer Datuk Zamri Idrus, for the accused, asked for lower bail saying that Nordin has to support his family and suffers from diabetes.

Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad fixed bail at RM100,000 in one surety for both charges and allowed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution.

The case is set for mention on Feb 26.

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