Kuala lumpur: A witness testified in the Sessions Court today that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad, the former political secretary to a past Home Minister, requested a share of a RM19 million consultancy fee from a Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) project for political objectives.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Al Khairi Group Berhad managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khairi Mat Jahya, 43, revealed during the trial that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, who faces three corruption charges totaling RM350,000, had approached him seeking a portion of the consultancy fee. Mohd Khairi, the 15th prosecution witness, stated that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir's inquiries were directed at securing a portion for political purposes, confirming that the "portion" referred to a cut of the PDRM project's consultancy fee.
In his witness statement, Mohd Khairi recounted that in mid-April 2020, Sayed Amir Muzzakkir contacted him and arranged a meeting with Nexuscorpgroup Sdn Bhd's managing director Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof. The accused emphasized discussing the amount he would receive if the company secured the PDRM tender for maintenance and supply of spare parts for infrastructure equipment and systems.
Mohd Khairi further stated that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir sought political funding, citing his introduction to Nexuscorpgroup and the then Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin. When questioned by deputy public prosecutor Atirah Mohd Azuarizanuddin on why he declined to give a portion of the fee, Mohd Khairi explained the absence of project details, documents, and background information led to his decision.
He also testified about a request for a dummy invoice for RM350,000 from Wan Azhar, which he complied with to avoid withholding of payments. He expressed surprise upon learning that Wan Azhar had paid the amount to Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, as he had never promised him a cut.
During cross-examination, Mohd Khairi agreed to not having promised Sayed Amir Muzzakkir any payment for his advisory role at Nexuscorpgroup. However, he opposed the defense's claim that the RM350,000 was part of the consultancy fee.
On May 23, 2024, Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, 43, was charged with two counts of accepting RM350,000 in bribes from Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof to assist Nexuscorpgroup in securing the RMPNet tender for PDRM, valued at over RM381 million. The alleged offenses took place in December 2020 at the Yayasan Tanah Aku office in Solaris Dutamas and Nexuscorpgroup's office in Shah Alam.
The charges fall under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which prescribes a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of at least five times the bribe's value or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. The trial, presided over by Judge Rosli Ahmad, is set to continue tomorrow.