The corruption trial involving Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and its director will begin in June 2027, with the prosecution expected to call 29 witnesses.
KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution is set to call 29 witnesses in the corruption trial of Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and its director, scheduled for next year at the High Court.
The allegations centre on an offer of RM500,000 annually over 15 years, purportedly for the benefit of Tan Sri Annuar Musa, connected to the takeover of the Menara Kuala Lumpur concession.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar informed the court of the development during case management before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin today.
“The prosecution has today submitted the final documents to the defence,” she said, appearing alongside DPP Nidzuwan Abd Latif.
Lawyer Chetan Jethwani, representing Hydroshoppe director Datuk Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh, confirmed the matter.
Noor Ruwena then set Nov 30 for further case management, and June 24, 28, 29 and 30, 2027 as the new trial dates. Initially, the court had set the trial dates in January, February and June, 2027.
On April 5, 2023, Abdul Hamid, 52, was accused of offering a bribe through Datuk Tan Ser Lay as an inducement to Annuar, who was then Communications and Multimedia Minister, to expedite the company’s takeover of the management and administration of the Menara Kuala Lumpur concession.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia in Putrajaya between July and August 2022.
The charge was brought under Section 16(b)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 20 years or a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Hydroshoppe was also charged under Section 17A(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 as a commercial organisation, for jointly offering a bribe to Tan for the benefit of Annuar at the same location and date.
If found guilty, the responsible directors, controllers, officers, or managers of the company face a maximum imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of RM1 million, or 10 times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher.
