Kuala lumpur: A witness in the corruption trial of Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad confirmed at the Sessions Court here today that the accused had held the position of political secretary to then Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin from 2020 to 2021.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Home Ministry Human Resources Division undersecretary Nik Noraini Nik Ya, 55, informed the court that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir held the post from March 18, 2020, to August 16, 2021. His duties and responsibilities were based on direct orders from the then Home Minister, and his service ended due to a Cabinet reshuffle following a change of government.
Nik Noraini also stated that she did not personally know the accused but was aware of his role as the Home Minister’s political secretary. Her statement came during her testimony as the prosecution’s third witness in the trial of Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, who faces three corruption charges involving a total of RM350,000 in bribes.
Sayed Amir Muzzakkir is accused of receiving RM350,000 in cash bribes from NexusCorp Group Sdn Bhd’s managing director, Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof, to help the company secure a tender to maintain and supply spare parts for the infrastructure, server, software, and RMPNET radio system for the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), valued at RM381,112,042.44.
The alleged offenses were committed at the office of Yayasan Tanah Aku, Solaris Dutamas, at 4 pm on December 4 and 3:30 pm on December 16, 2020. Additionally, Sayed Amir Muzzakkir is charged with soliciting a cash bribe of RM350,000 from the same individual for the same purpose at the Nexuscorp Group Sdn Bhd office in Section 7 Industrial Area, Shah Alam, Selangor, at 4 pm in early December 2020.
The charges are framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law. Upon conviction, the law provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Hazel Tan Jia Qi leads the prosecution, while lawyers Md Yunos Shariff and Asmadi Hussin represent the accused. The trial before Judge Rosli Ahmad is set to resume on Thursday.