Three company directors and two managing directors testified at the Butterworth Sessions Court today in the trial of Hasbie Satar’s RM2.134 million money laundering case.  

Appearing as the prosecution’s witnesses, Zambina Wawasan Sdn Bhd managing director Izham Omar Merican, PAE Builders Sdn Bhd managing director Abu Bakar Ismail, Fauzi Haji Idris Sdn Bhd director Fauzi Idris, Ismafinie (Md) Sdn Bhd director Nik Mohd Iskandar Nik Hassan, and Syarikat Seri Delima Anggun director Rizal Sabtu had testified before Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin that their companies had obtained government projects between June 2007 and May 2008.

They had testified that they had received offers for several projects around the country, including in Johor Baru, Kuantan and Bangi, through another contractor company Nadi Cergas Sdn Bhd, and had held direct negotiations

The letters, which were produced by individuals from Nadi Cergas, namely ‘Haji Wan’, ‘Mr Lim’ and ‘Mr Tan’, were sent to offices of then-prime minister and finance minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and then-finance minister II Nor Mohamed Yaakop in Putrajaya, between 2007 and 2008.

The individuals also said that the projects, costing between RM43 million and RM200 million, were approved, and the contractor companies and Nadi Cergas had received commissions between 1.5 percent and three percent from those projects.

The projects, which also included the construction of the Johor Baru Police Contingent Headquarters and Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) building in Kepala Batas, have been completed.

Two other witnesses, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) assistant registrar Daliza Jamaluddin and Finance Ministry administration officer Norhasliza Yahya testified in Hasbie’s case as well.

Hasbie, 37, who is the former political secretary to Nor Mohamed, currently Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had allegedly committed the offence at an apartment in Teluk Air Tawar at 3.30pm on Feb 11, 2010.

He was charged under Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a fine up to RM5 million or a jail term up to five years or both, if convicted.

Hasbie was represented by counsel Y Sheelan Samugam and Mohamad Fairuz B Masri while deputy public prosecutors Anselm Charles Fernandis, Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah and Hazril Harun prosecuted.

The trial continues tomorrow.

- Bernama