Ex-Mosti sec-gen charged with 10 counts of graft

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Abdul Hanan: Charged with 10 counts of graft involving RM59,390.60.

SHAH ALAM: Former Science, Technology and Innovation secretary-general Datuk Abdul Hanan Alang Endut was charged with 10 counts of graft at the Sessions Court here on Wednesday.

He claimed trial to all charges involving a total of RM59,390.60 in kickbacks from Dec 1 to 15, as an inducement to approve a research grant for a technology project in Penang worth more than RM10mil.

Outside the court room, there was a buzz when some onlookers came to know that one of the charges against Abdul Hanan, 57, was that he had used RM25,000 in kickbacks as payment for tithes. Most people shook their heads in disbelief.

Abdul Hanan is said to have received several blank cheques from Global Goodway (M) Sdn Bhd with which he was alleged to have made several payments.

He had allegedly paid tithes on Dec 22, 2008 using a blank cheque from Global Goodway as an inducement for approving an application from contractor Adam Omar.

Abdul Hanan, who was transferred to the Public Services Department in April this year, is accused of using RM15,024 to renovate his house in Section 17/21 here.

He is also charged with making payments for his CIMB credit card amounting to RM9,275 through ill-gotten gains using a United Oversea Bank cheque owned by Adam Omar.

Abdul Hanan also allegedly made payments amounting to RM1,542 in assessments for two residential premises, in Section 17 here and Flora Damansara in Bandar Damanasara,

He is also charged with transferring RM8,000 to his wife Norihan Ahmad’s Maybank account on Feb 27.

He is also charged with making payments for the sinking fund, water bill and service charges amounting to RM534 for two premises in Bandar Damansar and Taman MAS Puchong, and RM15 for quit rent in Mukim Sungai Raya.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais requested bail be set at RM10,000 with one surety. There was no objection.

Defence counsel Badrul Munir Bukhari represented Abdul Hanan as lead counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was attending the Perak State Assembly as an observer.

Sessions Court judge Syafeera Mohd Said fix bail at RM10,000 with one surety. The case will be brought for mention on Dec 2.

Under Section 16 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, if found guilty Abdul Hanan could face a minimum of 14 days’ and a maximum of 20 years’ jail, and a fine not less than five times the value of gratification.