BUTTERWORTH: A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer was charged at the Sessions Court here today with nine counts of abuse of power and to obtain gratification by approving his own brother’s company to supply items for the department at his workplace.
The accused Badaruddin Mohamed, 53, pleaded not guilty to all the charges which were read out to him before Judge Nizam Zakaria.
For the seven charges, Badaruddin is accused of having used his position as USM communications strategic office director to obtain gratification for his brother Mustafa Kamal Mohamed by approving the latter’s company Syarikat MK Urusniaga (M) Sdn Bhd as supplier to items such as the public address system and glass souvenirs worth RM153,793 to the USM communications strategic office between Sept 23, 2011 and Nov 23, 2012.
For the other two charges, he is alleged to have used his position as USM Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster (STRC) chief to obtain gratification for his brother Mustafa Kamal Mohamed by approving the latter’s company Syarikat MK Urusniaga (M) Sdn Bhd as supplier to 30 units of glass souvenirs worth RM3,450 and office biometric worth RM2,920 for STRC office between Sept 5, 2011 and May 14, 2012.
All the charges are under sub-section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under sub-section 24(1) of the same act, which carries up to 20 years jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher upon conviction.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Amer Abu Bakar Abdullah prosecuted while the accused was represented by Rahmatullah Baharuden.
Amer offered RM10,000 bail for each charge. Rahmatullah, however, requested for a lower bail. Nizam then fixed bail at RM24,500 with four sureties for all charges and fixed Nov 29 for next mention.
