KUCHING, August 16: An assistant engineer attached to the state Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) was today charged in the Kuching Special Court for Corruption with six counts of abuse of power involving contracts worth RM40,000 in all.
Jamal Abdullah, 48, pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Justice Nixon Kennedy Kumbong.
The charges read to him are as follows:
1. That on May 4, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request P.J.P Enterprise to carry out works stated in the form to carry out maintenance of the 3.2ML Sampadi Reservoir in Lundu at the price of RM9,942 to Sakinah Abdullah and Patrick Philip Jerol, who are his wife and brother and also the owners of P.J.P Enterprise.
2. That on June 7, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request P.J.P Enterprise to carry works stated in the form to carry out maintenance and repair of water supply facilities to operate and for maintenance of the micro-filter membrane water treatment plant at Telok Melano in Sematan at the price of RM4,982 to Sakinah Abdullah and Patrick Philip Jerol, who are his wife and brother and also the owners of P.J.P Enterprise.
3. That on May 9, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request Caprient Supply and Services to carry works stated in the form to provide skilled labour, equipment, material and transport to improve the raw water pipeline in Lundu at the price of RM6,752.20 to Jessylia Ramba, who is his sister-in-law.
4. That on June 7, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request Caprient Supply and Services to carry works stated in the form to provide labour, tools, equipment and the necessary for maintenance of meter stands in Bau at the price of RM4,992 to Jessylia Ramba, who is his sister-in-law.
5. That on April 4, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request Caprient Supply and Services to carry out maintenance of meter stands in Skiat, Krokong, in Bau at the price of RM4,992 to Jessylia Ramba, who is his sister-in-law.
6. That on May 5, 2016, at the JBALB office in Kuching, he was involved in submitting a form to request Caprient Supply and Services to provide skilled labour, equipment, material, and transport to carry out urgent maintenance of the booster pumping station at Batang Kayan in Lundu at the price of RM8,819.20 to Jessylia Ramba, who is his sister-in- law.
The charges were made under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2009, which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Justice Nixon fixed this Sept 24 as the next hearing date and Oct 29-Nov 2 for trial.
The judge allowed Jamal to be released on bail of RM25,000 in two sureties, on the condition the latter’s passport be surrendered and both sureties must be working with valid payslips.
MACC prosecuting officer Ikhwan Mohd Ibrahim prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsel Francis Wee. — DayakDaily
