Nothing in charge sheet shows Padang Serai MP committed corruption, says lawyer

The lawyer for Perikatan Nasional MP Azman Nasrudin has expressed surprise at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's decision to charge his client with receiving a bribe of RM400,000 in exchange for helping a businessman secure a feedlot project from the Kedah state government.

N Surendran said an application will be filed to strike out the charge against the Padang Serai MP, adding that it was an abuse of process.

"It is a baseless charge against our client," said Surendran, who is also the  former Padang Serai MP.

In addition to Surendran, Azman is also represented by Sasha Lyna, Nizamuddin Hamid, Shahid Adli and Afiq Nardin.

Surendran said no further details were provided to show how Azman had committed the offence under Section 28(1) of the MACC Act for aiding a person to commit corruption.

According to the charge sheet, Azman is accused of abetting businessman Amar Assuat Abu Bakar in receiving a RM400,000 bribe from businessman Mohd Hassanaim Fauzi in June 2020, in exchange for helping the latter secure the Feedlot Beef Cattle Project from Kedah Agro Holding Bhd, a state government-owned company which has since ceased operations.

"It’s clear from the charge sheet filed by MACC that there is no allegation that Azman took a single cent of the alleged RM 400,000," said Surendran. 

"Instead it is alleged that the other person charged who is a former employee of Kedah Agro took the bribe for himself. This is in their own charge sheet. Then why charge Azman?" he asked.