KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has fixed 15 days next year to hear the graft trial of consultant Muhammad Faisal Hamzah, who is accused of receiving a RM100,000 bribe.

Judge Rosli Ahmad fixed the dates on Thursday (Aug 29) after prosecuting officer Ikhwan Zaudii Nordin from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) informed the court that the prosecution had handed over documents related to the case to the defence.

"The prosecution will be calling 21 witnesses (to the stand)," he said during case mention.

Lawyer Chetan Jethwani, who represented the accused, confirmed the matter.

He sought a pre-trial case management date to manage documentation on the case as well as witness statements.

The court then fixed Feb 21 for case management.

The hearing dates have been fixed for March 24-28, April 14 -18 and April 21-25.

Muhammad Faisal, the son of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, was charged on June 5.

According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Faisal had dishonestly accepted a RM100,000 bribe from one Izmir Abd Hamid as an inducement for Heitech Padu Bhd to appoint Rimba Merpati Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Per My Solutions as marketing consultants, due to his influence.

The companies were then paid a commission of RM700,000 after Heitech Padu Bhd was awarded a RM33mil tender titled "Supply, Rental, Implementation, Training, Support and Maintenance of Security Infrastructure" by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

The offence was allegedly committed at an office in a shopping mall at Jalan Dutamas 1 in March 2018.

Muhammad Faisal was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

He is currently out on RM25,000 bail.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/29/court-sets-15-days-from-march-24-for-graft-trial-of-hamzah039s-son