Penang:The chairman of a statutory body in Penang, Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin, has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges of accepting bribes amounting to over RM800,000. These charges were heard at the Sessions Court today, with the alleged offences occurring between June 2025 and July this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shaik Hussein is accused of receiving RM847,107.61 in bribes through Aliran Ilham Sdn Bhd (AISB) from Datuk R. Albert Suresh, the director of ATSH Management Sdn Bhd (ATSH). The bribes, ranging from RM45.51 to RM244,620, were reportedly given to secure ATSH's appointment as a subcontractor for a RM23.27 million project involving the construction of a 10-storey hostel block and facilities at Institut Kemahiran Tinggi PERDA in Bukit Panchor, Seberang Perai Selatan.
The alleged transactions took place at a bank in Jalan Perda Selatan, Bandar Perda, Seberang Perai Tengah, between June 26, 2025, and July 9, 2026. The charges fall under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The prosecution, led by MACC deputy public prosecutors Lim Jin Hong and Nurnajihatul Idayu Mohd Azuyar, suggested a bail amount of RM1 million, with conditions that include surrendering the accused's passport, monthly reporting to the MACC office, and not interfering with prosecution witnesses.
Shaik Hussein's defense, a seven-member legal team headed by Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, contested the bail amount as excessive, arguing that the prosecution had not justified the necessity of such a sum to ensure court attendance. Judge Irwan Suainbon subsequently granted bail at RM300,000, with the requirement of reporting to the MACC office every two months, along with other conditions. The judge also allowed the accused to request temporary release of his passport for specified periods and purposes. The court has scheduled January 8, 2027, for the submission of documents.