A former senior manager at Sime Darby Engineering Sdn Bhd was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with receiving a RM200,000 inducement to propose a company for a multi-million ringgit contract.

NONE According to the charge sheet, Mazhazmi Jamaludin ( right ) allegedly received the money from MLC Shipbuilding as payment for proposing the company for a US$132.2 million (RM421.15 million) contract from Sime Darby.

Charged under Section 11(A) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe upon conviction.

Mazhazmi, who is represented by Shamsul Sulaiman, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

DPP Kevin Morais requested that bail be set at RM20,000, but Shamsul argued for it to be reduced to RM10,000 on the basis that his client has paid the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) RM10,000 to be released from interrogation.

He said this payment should be transferred and used as bail.

Judge Rozilah Salleh rejected the application and set bail at RM20,000.

Assault claim

Shamsul told the court that his client had been stripped naked, blindfolded and made to stand on one foot by MACC officers during interrogation.

Speaking to reporters later, the lawyer said Mazhazmi was also “kicked and pushed” by MACC officers, but not to the extent that he sustained bruises.

NONE Mazhazmi had been told that he was called in as a witness to assist in investigations, but “MACC officers also threatened to arrest him and his family”, said Shamsul.

A police report is to be lodged this afternoon.

This is the second arrest of a Sime Darby official since Aug 6, where marine division general manager Zamri Mohd Iderus ( left ) was slapped with two charges of receiving monetary inducements.

MACC denies ex-Sime Darby official's assault claims