00:00Former Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Mohammed Nizam Jaffar has been slapped with four counts of corruption involving more than 3.75 million ringgit.
00:11The 59-year-old pleaded not guilty after all four charges were read out before Judge Rosli Ahmad on Friday.
00:18The first two charges allege Mohammed Nizam abused his position as Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel Services and Chairman of the Armed Forces Welfare Fund Executive Committee.
00:30Prosecutors claim he personally profited over 552,000 ringgit by awarding contracts for Hari Raya gift packages to five companies.
00:40The contracts covered items like kain pelikat, batik fabric, backpacks and towels.
00:46If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of at least five times the gratification amount, or 10,000 ringgit, whichever is higher.
00:56The most serious charge involves 3 million ringgit.
01:00Mohammed Nizam is accused of criminal breach of trust, allegedly using Armed Forces Welfare Fund money for an unauthorized investment in precious Amber International Berhad without the Investment Committee's approval.
01:13This charge alone carries a maximum 20-year jail term with the possibility of whipping and a fine.
01:19The fourth charge alleges that, as Armed Forces Chief, he accepted 200,000 ringgit from one Shafi Abdul Rashid, a director of Aspen Red Sandirian Berhad, without providing anything in return.
01:33Money potentially connected to his official duties.
01:36While Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Garib acknowledged these were non-bailable offenses, he didn't object to bail being granted, proposing 300,000 ringgit with one surety.
01:50However, defense lawyer Abdul Aziz Hamza pleaded for lower bail of just 100,000 ringgit, emphasizing Mohammed Nizam's four decades of military service and his family responsibilities, including caring for elderly parents.
02:04Judge Rosli Ahmad allowed bail at 180,000 ringgit with one surety and ordered Mohammed Nizam to surrender his passport.
02:14The case was set for mention on March 31.
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