Malaysia’s former human resources minister Saravanan claims trial on graft charges
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Former Malaysian human resources minister M. Saravanan pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before the Sessions Court judge.
PHOTO: BERNAMA
- Former Malaysian human resources minister M. Saravanan pleaded not guilty to three graft charges involving over RM1 million linked to foreign worker approvals.
- The charges include receiving cash and cheque payments as kickbacks for approving 1,000 foreign worker quotas for TYKB Engineering.
- Saravanan was granted bail of RM450,000 with conditions, including quarterly reporting to MACC and a ban on harassing witnesses; the case is set for mention on Sept 29.
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KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian human resources minister M. Saravanan has claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to three charges of graft involving more than RM1 million (S$315,000) linked to foreign workers approval.
The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi on Aug 28. “I understand the charges. I plead not guilty,” said Saravanan.
According to the first and second charges, Saravanan allegedly received RM150,000 and RM350,000 in cash from Vectica Resources director Tan Teck Lim via one Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resorts and at Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, on June 16 and July 7, 2022.
For the third charge, Saravanan allegedly received RM597,000 through a cheque from the same person that was deposited into a Big Seven Ventures bank account at Maybank Jalan Klang Lama, Taman Desa, on July 7, 2022.
The money was said to be a kickback for him in his capacity as the human resources minister to approve a 1,000 quota for foreign workers for TYKB Engineering.
Saravanan was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act which carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin told the court that the accused was charged with a non-bailable offence and the prosecution would not object if the court wanted to exercise its discretion in granting bail. But the prosecution proposed bail at RM800,000 in one surety and urged the court to impose additional bail conditions.
“The accused must register his attendance to the nearest MACC office and surrender his passport to the court,” said Julaila.
Saravanan’s lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent objected to the bail, saying it was excessive. He said bail was not meant to be punitive and proposed RM400,000 instead. “The accused is determined to clear his name. We have no objections to the additional bail conditions except for the passport issue,” he said.
Judge Azura fixed bail at RM450,000 in one surety. “The accused must report himself at the nearest MACC office to his house, once in three months. The accused is barred from harassing the witnesses,” she said.
The case is fixed for mention on Sept 29. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
