The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is likely to proceed with the corruption trial of a former senior manager

of Sime Darby Engineering Sdn Bhd despite the absence of a key witness.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court that the prosecution might go ahead regardless whether Redzuan Goh Mohammed Karian could be located or not.

He said the commission failed to trace Redzuan, a Singaporean, after the witness left the country. He was believed to be in Batam, Indonesia.

Morais informed the court that he would update the status on whether to proceed with the trial or not on July 18.

Judge Rozilah Salleh, however, set July 8 for mention for the MACC to inform the court of the whereabouts of the key witness in the trial of Mazhazmi Jamaludin, who is charged with receiving a RM200,000 bribe over the sale and construction of three vessels.

On April 25,  Morais had applied for an order to discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) Mazhazmi from the charge after it could not locate Redzuan.

However Judge Rozilah had given MACC until July 18 to locate the witness.

Mazhazmi, 37, is charged with accepting the payment as gratification in proposing MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd to obtain a contract from Sime Darby to construct and sell one Derrick Lay Barge (Hull No MLC 12888), a 75M (Wartsila 8000bhp) Anchor Handling Tug/Supply Vessel Hull No 75083 and a 75M (Wartsila 8000bhp) Anchor Handling Tug/Supply Vessel Hull No 75084', all worth USD134.2 million (RM401.9 million).

He is also charged with accepting the money to confirm certain payments made by the shipbuilding company for the construction of the barge and tug vessels.

Mazhazmi, represented by lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman, was alleged to have received the money from Redzuan, the owner of MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd.

He is charged under Section 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, and if found guilty, can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years jail and fined five times the amount of the bribe paid or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The trial had begun on April 11 this year with the prosecution calling eight witnesses.

- Bernama