They Took Bribes To Keep Muhyiddin's Son Out Of Probe. Now They Are Facing 20 Years' Jail
The duo solicited a total of RM640,000 as an inducement not to remand Datuk Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin.
Two men have been charged over bribes they accepted to help former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's son avoid being detained
Of the two men charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today, 25 May, one is a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior officer, while the other is a businessman cum political fixer.
They were identified as the anti-graft agency's investigation branch chief Mohd Rasyidi Mohd Said and Mohd Hussein Mohd Nasir, who has been referred to as 'Datuk Roy', reported New Straits Times.
Both of them have been jointly charged with soliciting and receiving two amounts, RM400,000 and RM240,000, from a couple named, Siti Dalena Berhan and her husband Syed Farid Syed Ahmad Al Atas, on 5 and 6 March this year in return for not investigating and remanding Datuk Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin.
Fakhri (circled in red) with his father Muhyiddin after the latter was appointed the eighth prime minister on 29 February 2020.
Image via Azneal Ishak/Malaysiakini
Hussein was also charged with soliciting RM2 million for himself from the same couple in return to interfere in the corruption charges against Bersatu Segambut deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.
He had promised the couple to help reduce the charges, amend a witness statement, and reduce the amount of bail in Adam's four corruption charges related to the Jana Wibawa programme.
The Jana Wibawa Programme was introduced in November 2020 by the Muhyiddin-led government as a stimulus initiative to help Bumiputera contractors. Muhyiddin himself has been charged with abuse of power and money laundering in relation to the project, according to New Straits Times.
The duo pleaded not guilty when the charges, under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009, were read to them before judge Suzana Hussin
They are accused of committing the offences at two different restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, at a steakhouse in Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, and at a fast food restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas, reported The Star.
Both Rasyidi and Hussein face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Both of them have been granted bail
Hussein was granted bail of RM15,000 in one surety while Rasyidi was granted bail of RM10,000 in one surety.
Judge Suzana Hussin ordered them to surrender their passports to the court while awaiting trial.
In March, Muhyiddin was arrested over the Jana Wibawa scandal:
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