DOE DG accused of RM100k graft over Penang paired road project

Environment Department (DOE) director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar was charged this morning at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with receiving a RM100,000 bribe last year in relation to an infrastructure project in Penang.

According to the charge sheet, Wan Latiff (above) was accused of receiving the remuneration, in cash, from Sunrich Conquest Sdn Bhd’s director Khor Chong Wai, through the company’s project manager Lee Ham Kong on Jan 15, 2025.

Wan Latiff was accused of accepting the bribe, in his official capacity, to consider an appeal by Geo Valley Sdn Bhd, which sought an exemption from preparing an EIA report in their planning permission application.

The application was for the company’s proposal to construct the Bukit Kukus paired road and earthworks for mitigation on government land in Paya Terubong, Penang, in which the appeal was made to DOE via a letter dated Nov 22, 2024.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is a mandatory document required for development projects with significant environmental impacts needing DOE’s approval before work begins.

The accused’s charge was framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum 20-year imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount of bribes or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The director-general, who turns 59 in August, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Suzana Hussin.

The court then ordered him to pay RM40,000 bail with one surety, with the additional condition that he surrender his passport to the court.

The judge also fixed May 7 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Akram Gharib and Fadhly Zambry prosecuted, while Firdaus Ahmad and Aridz Mirzha Ahmad represented the accused.

Six counts of receiving RM21k

In a separate court, DOE deputy director-general (Operations) Norhazni Mat Sari claimed trial before judge Azura Alwi to six counts of receiving RM21,000 from one Tang Siong Hee for her daughter between 2022 and 2024.

Norhazni was alleged to have received the funds, without consideration, from Tang, who is the E-Concern (Borneo) Sdn Bhd’s director and is tied to her official duties.

The transactions were made on six separate occasions, which were RM1,000 on April 18, 2022; RM1,000 on Feb 4, RM2,000 on Feb 20, RM2,000 on April 8, RM5,000 on Aug 22, 2023, and one transaction involving RM10,000 on July 19, 2024.

She was alleged to have committed the offence at Maybank Bukit Bintang’s branch, where the funds were made via online transfer into her daughter’s bank account.

All her charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum of two years’ jail, a fine, or both.

RM25k bail

Akram, who led the prosecution team in Norhazni’s case, said both parties had agreed to RM25,000 bail with one surety.

He also suggested the court consider confiscating Norhazni’s passport as an additional bail condition.

The accused’s lawyer, Haresh Mahadevan, then informed the court that Norhazni requires her passport to travel to Geneva for work-related meetings between June 16 and 26.

In reply, Akram suggested that the court consider confiscating the document today and that she could make an application to temporarily retrieve it near the date.

The judge then set bail at RM25,000 with one surety and confiscated her passport until the case is resolved. The court also fixed May 19 for mention.

Lawyers in both cases confirmed Wan Latiff and Norhazni remain in active duty at the department.

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said that the DOE’s director-general and deputy director-general were expected to be charged today following investigations into e-waste management.

Wan Latiff and Norhazni, along with an assistant environmental control officer, were remanded for seven days starting Jan 30 to assist MACC’s investigation into a case involving e-waste management.

Their arrests followed MACC’s proposal for a six-month pause on all imports of plastic waste and e-waste to assess the actual impact of these imports on the country.

‘No e-waste mentioned in charges’

Despite the crux of MACC’s investigation involving the pair focusing on e-waste management, there was no mention of the matter in Wan Latiff and Norhazni’s charges today.

“My client informed us that during remand, she was never asked anything with regards to e-waste, but Azam has been issuing press statements, one after another, emphasising as if she were part of a cartel or those who allowed e-waste into the country, causing immense danger to Malaysia.

“But we can see from the six charges today that the substance of the charges has nothing to do with e-waste.

“We want Azam to clarify this because the public has scorched my client (all these while) as if she’s the country’s traitor bringing poison to the country,” Haresh told Malaysiakini after today’s proceedings.

Separately, he added that any statement linking Norhazni to e-waste smuggling is completely baseless.

“What is more concerning is that despite the serious issue of large quantities of illegal e-waste entering Malaysia, no one has been charged over it, and no one has been brought to justice.

“Norhazni maintains her innocence and will defend herself in court.

“She hopes the focus will now shift to identifying those actually responsible for the illegal e-waste activities.”

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