Court sets Jan 4 for Hydroshoppe, director corruption trial

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here fixed Jan 4 to hear the trial of Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and its director over an alleged RM7.5 million bribe to expedite the taking over of the management and concession of Kuala Lumpur Tower.

Justice Noor Ruwena Nurdin set the dates during case management proceedings attended by deputy public prosecutor Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin and lawyer Tang Jia Yearn, who appeared for Hydroshoppe director Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh.

The court fixed the trial dates for Jan 4 to 7, Feb 2 to 4, March 16 to 18, June 8 to 10, June 14 to 17 and June 21 to 23, 2027, Bernama reported.

Noor Ruwena also set Aug 18 this year for mention and submission of documents.

In April 2023, Hamid claimed trial to a charge under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for allegedly offering a bribe of RM500,000 a year for 15 years to Tan Ser Lay for the benefit of former communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa to expedite the acquisition process.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place at the ministry’s office in Putrajaya between July 2022 and August 2022.

If convicted, Hamid faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of at least 10 times the bribe amount, or both.

Separately, Hydroshoppe was charged with the same offence, with Hamid claiming trial on behalf of the company as its director.

The charge against the company was framed under Section 17A(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 17A(2) of the same Act.

The section provides for a minimum fine of RM1 million or a maximum 20-year jail sentence, or both, if convicted.