Former Malaysian human resources minister M Saravanan, 58, pleaded not guilty late last week to three charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM1.097 million (S$347,000) to approve foreign worker quotas.
M. Saravanan, who is Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) deputy president, has claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi. “I understand the charges. I plead not guilty,” said Saravanan.
According to the first and second charges, Saravanan allegedly received RM150,000 and RM350,000 in cash from Vectica Resources director Tan Teck Lim via one Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resorts and at Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, on June 16 and July 7, 2022.
For the third charge, Saravanan allegedly received RM597,000 through a cheque from the same person that was deposited into a Big Seven Ventures bank account at Maybank Jalan Klang Lama, Taman Desa, on July 7, 2022.
The money was said to be a kickback for him in his capacity as the human resources minister to approve a 1,000 quota for foreign workers for TYKB Engineering.
Saravanan was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act which carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin told the court that the accused was charged with a non-bailable offence and the prosecution would not object if the court wanted to exercise its discretion in granting bail. But the prosecution proposed bail at RM800,000 in one surety and urged the court to impose additional bail conditions.
“The accused must register his attendance to the nearest MACC office and surrender his passport to the court,” said Ms Julaila.
Saravanan’s lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent objected to the bail, saying it was excessive. He said bail was not meant to be punitive and proposed RM400,000 instead. “The accused is determined to clear his name. We have no objections to the additional bail conditions except for the passport issue,” he said.
Judge Azura fixed bail at RM450,000 in one surety. “The accused must report himself at the nearest MACC office to his house, once in three months. The accused is barred from harassing the witnesses,” she said.
The case is fixed for mention on Sept 29. AGENCIES
