Woman and PKR man plead not guilty in title-for-sale case

A Kelantan PKR division leader and a single mother have pleaded not guilty to graft charges involving RM50,000 as an inducement to obtain a Datukship for a third person.

Self-employed Nor Azimah Jamaludin, 31, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Rosbiahanin Arifin to receiving a RM50,000 cheque from one Izuldin Hani Mohd Noor as an inducement to obtain for him a Datuk di-Raja title from Persatuan Kerabat Di-Raja Duli Yang Maha Mulia Long Yunus in Kelantan.

Nor Azimah, who was unrepresented, also claimed trial to an alternative charge of cheating Izuldin into handing over the cheque.

Both offences were allegedly committed at a fast-food restaurant in Taman Melati on Dec 8, 2010.

Day in court: Nor Azimah and Mohammad Agos (right) have been charged with accepting monetary inducements to obtain a Kelantan title for a third person.

In a separate Sessions Court, Rantau Panjang PKR chief Datuk Mohammad Agos Mohd Noor, 52, pleaded not guilty before judge Rozilah Salleh to abetting Nor Azimah in both the main and alternative charges.

Both Nor Azimah and Mohammad Agos were granted RM30,000 bail each with one surety and their cases fixed for mention on May 9.

For the main charge under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, they face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

They can also be sentenced up to 10 years in jail and be whipped and fined for the alternative charge under the Penal Code.

In Shah Alam, Nor Azimah also claimed trial in the Sessions Court to two charges of accepting RM150,000 from a businessman, with two alternative charges of deceiving, to secure a similar title last year.

She is alleged to have received a cheque for RM75,000, as an inducement to secure the title, at a cafe in a hotel at Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, Port Klang, on Nov 13 last year.

Alternatively, she is alleged to have deceived Salleh into believing that she could obtain the award whereas it was unlawful under the Kelantan Constitution.

On the second charge, Nor Azimah is alleged to have accepted a cheque for RM75,000 from Salleh as an inducement to do the same thing and at the same place, between Nov 20 and 30 last year.

DPP Muhammad Sinti of MACC, who appeared for the prosecution, applied for the cases to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be heard with Nor Azimah’s other charges.

Judge M. Bakri ordered the cases to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Source : The Star