Former Bank Negara Malaysia assistant governor Mohamad Daud Dol Moin was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with receiving a bribe totalling RM100,000 from a middleman in connection with the awarding of a contract to print polymer banknotes.

NONE Businessperson Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad (left in photo) was separately charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court with bribing Mohamad Daud. Both claimed trial at their respective proceedings.

The charges follow a joint operation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Australian authorities over an alleged discrepancy in the central bank awarding the contract to an Australian firm.

Mohamad Daud, 58, faces two counts of receiving RM50,000 as gratification from businessperson Abdul Kayum, 62, through an intermediary, to facilitate the awarding of the RM95 million contract for printing the RM5 polymer notes by Note Printing Australia Ltd.

He allegedly received the sums at the Dome Restaurant, Bangsar Shopping Centre, on Dec 1, 2004, and Feb 16, 2005.

NONE DPP Manoj Kurup applied for Daud’s bail to be set at RM100,000 in one surety. Daud's lawyers JD Goonting and Collin Goonting did not object.

Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin fixed Aug 2 for mention of the case. 

Mohamad Daud (right) is being charged under Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount received, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

He was arrested yesterday and taken to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters.

Six Australians to be charged

It is learnt the Australian authorities are today prosecuting six individuals from two companies - Securency International and Note Printing Australia Ltd - in connection with the scandal.

bank negara 270307 According to the MACC, the Australians are Myles Curtis, John Leckenby, Mitchell Anderson, Peter Hutchinson, Barry Brady and Rognvald Mardrant.

Securency International is alleged in a news report by Australian newspaper The Age to have hired Haris Onn Hussein - the brother of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and cousin of Prime Minister Najib Razak - to act as agent to help them win the contract.

This is the first time the Australian police are enforcing the foreign bribery legislation, which was introduced in 1999.

Abdul Kayum faces two counts of bribery for furnishing the total bribe of RM100,000 to Mohamad Daud "in order to assist in getting the contract" for the bank note printing project.

Abdul Kayum was accused of giving a bribe of RM50,000 through an intermediary at Eon Bank in Taipan, Subang Jaya, Selangor, on Nov 24, 2004, and another RM50,000 through the same middleman on Feb 15, 2005.

NONE His charge is under Section 11(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act.

Presiding judge Asmadi Husin lowered Abdul Kayum's bail of RM100,000 as requested by DPP Kurup, taking into account the accused’s appeal that both he and his wife are jobless and have three children aged two, six and nine.

Representing Abdul Kayum at the Shah Alam Sessions Court was Gurbachan Singh, who appeared on behalf of Manjit Singh Dhillon.

The case will be mentioned on Aug 2 in the later part of the day.

Abdul Kayum faces a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM100,000, whichever is higher.

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  Earlier reports

MACC arrests trio linked to Australian banknote case

M'sian quizzed over RM11 mil Australian kickbacks