KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu Information Chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and businessman Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were charged in separate Sessions Court here today to charges of soliciting and receiving bribes in relation to the Jana Wibawa project.

Wan Saiful, 48, and Adam Radlan, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read out before Judge Azura Alwi and Judge Suzana Hussin, respectively.

“I plead not guilty and claim trial,” said Wan Saiful, who is also Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament.

He was charged with soliciting a bribe from one Lian Tan Chuan as an inducement for him to help a company, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, secure the “Central Spine Road: Sertik To East Coast Expressway Interchange” project worth RM232,000,000 from the Malaysian government at the pre-qualification stage.

Wan Saiful was also charged with receiving RM6,962,694.54, which was transferred from a Maybank Islamic Berhad account owned by Nepturis Sdn Bhd Company into a CIMB Bank Berhad account owned by his company, WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, as a reward for helping the company obtained a Letter of Acceptance for the project.

The former chairman of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) was charged with committing both offenses at the Royal Lake Club, Taman Tasik Perdana here in April 2022 and at CIMB Bank Berhad Bukit Tunku Branch, Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku here between July 8, 2022, and September 30, 2022.

As for Adam Radlan, he was charged with soliciting 3.5% to 7% of the value of the project from Mat Jusoh Mamat, who is MIE Infrastructure & Energy Sdn Bhd managing director.

It was an inducement for him to help the company to obtain the Letter of Acceptance for a project under the Jana Wibawa Program from the Malaysian government.

Adam Radlan was also charged with receiving a bribe of RM500,000 which was transferred into his CIMB Bank Berhad by Mat Jusoh as gratification for helping MIE Infrastructure & Energy Sdn Bhd obtained the Letter of Acceptance for a project involving road construction from Jalan Sungai Adam to Kampung Banat, in Perlis, which was worth RM47,8000,000, from the Malaysian government through direct negotiation.

He was alleged to have committed the offenses at a restaurant in Dutamas and at CIMB Bank Berhad Bukit Tunku Branch, Taman Tunku in March 2021 and November 26, 2021 respectively.

The charges against the two men were framed under Section 16 (a) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (2009), which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the law and provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or the value of the bribe or a fine of RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

Azura allowed Wan Saiful bail of RM400,000 with one surety and also ordered him to surrender his passport to the court as well as report himself at the Putrajaya MACC office every two months pending disposal of the case.

In the case of Adam Radlan, who is also Segambut Bersatu deputy leader, Suzana allowed him bail of RM120,000 with two sureties and also ordered him to surrender his passport to the court, as well as to report himself at a nearby MACC office once a month.

The court set March 22 for mention of Wan Saiful’s case and March 23 for mention of Adam Radlan’s case.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin applied for bail of between RM500,000 and RM1 million against Wan Saiful because it involved a serious offense.

“The accused cooperated well with the MACC throughout the investigation and has not risk of fleeing.  We request additional conditions that the accused’s passport be surrendered to the court and for him to report himself at the Putrajaya MACC office on the first week of every month,” said Wan Shaharuddin.

Lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Wan Saiful, requested a lower bail amount of between RM200,000 and RM300,000.

Hisyam said the purpose of bail was to ensure the accused’s attendance in court and that the prosecution had considered the accused to be a non-flight risk. 

“His (Wan Saiful) bank accounts have been frozen by the MACC. His wife is unwell and undergoing chemotherapy and money is required for this purpose,” Hisyam said.

The lawyer also requested the court to allow his client to report himself at the MACC office once in two months instead of once a month.

Wan Saiful was also represented by lawyers Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad.

In the case of  Adam Radlan, deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh offered bail of RM300,000 with two sureties for both charges, as well as the condition for him to report to the MACC office once a month and to surrender his passport to the court.

Lawyer Datuk Seri Rajan Navaratnam, representing Adam Radlan, requested bail at RM100,000 for both charges on the grounds that his client had extended his cooperation to MACC during the investigation and was never charged in court before.

“My client is a businessman who has four children aged between nine and 16 years. My client was contacted by the MACC and he went to the MACC office to testify and was informed that he would be charged in court today,” he said.

Also seen in court today were former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Bersatu vice-president Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

Prior to this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said that the implementation of the Jana Wibawa project was postponed for a review of whether its procurement procedure was made in compliance with the rules set by the Treasury.

According to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, the project, valued at RM5.7 billion, was postponed as there were elements of selective tender or direct negotiation in the procurement process.