Two fined RM100,000 Each For Failing To Report Bribes In MEX II Highway Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Two men were each fined RM100,000 by the Sessions Court here today for failing to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding bribes received as rewards for three companies to become subcontractors for the MEX II Highway project.  

Judge Suzana Hussin imposed the sentence on storekeeper Lee Keng Long, 37, and independent consultant Chan Chee Keong, 67, after they pleaded guilty to the charges read separately.

They were to face three months’ imprisonment in default.Both men paid the fines.  

The court also allowed the prosecution’s application to forfeit the seized money from both accused to the Malaysian government through MACC.  

According to the charge, Lee was accused of receiving a bribe of RM500,000 in cash from Lim Kim Hai as a reward for lending his three companies, Villas Hub Sdn Bhd, Jade Centennial Sdn Bhd, and Bidang Bakat Sdn Bhd, to Lim to be used as subcontractors for Golden Base Construction Sdn Bhd, thereby contravening Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 [Act 694].  

Chan, meanwhile, was accused of receiving a cash bribe of RM1.4 million from the same individual, Lim, as a reward for acting as an intermediary between Boon Joon Siang and Lim to secure the three subcontractor companies for Golden Base Construction, also contravening the same provision.  

Both accused were charged with failing to report the bribes to an MACC officer or the nearest police officer, with the offence committed at a consultancy company in Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra here, between June 2017 and June 2018. The charge was framed under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under Section 25(2) of the same Act.  

The section provides for a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.  

According to the statement of facts, Lee, who at the time worked as a lorry rental operator and owned three companies – Villas Hub, Jade Centennial, and Bidang Bakat – was contacted by his acquaintance, Ang Teck Ann, who invited him to meet Lim at an eatery in Klang, Selangor, around May 2017.  

Ang told Lee that he had a contact named Lim who was looking for several companies to be used in a highway construction project, but the companies would not be required to carry out any work, only to lend their names.  

Meanwhile, in 2017, Chan was contacted by his acquaintance, Boon, who was then Head of Finance at Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd (MHSB). During their conversation, Boon informed Chan that MHSB was looking for several companies to be appointed as subcontractors for works related to the MEX II Highway construction project.  

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Hazel Tan Jia Qi and Nidzuwan Abd Latip, while lawyer K. Ramalingan represented both accused.

-- BERNAMA