Former SSM CEO Datuk Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner must defend eight corruption charges, while 20 other charges were dismissed by the Sessions Court.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court today ordered former Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) chief executive officer Datuk Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner to enter her defence on eight corruption charges.

Judge Azura Alwi ruled the prosecution had established a prima facie case on four counts of obtaining bribes and four counts of abetting her son.

Zahrah faces three charges of obtaining RM1.01 million in bribes for approving advertising projects in Johor and Kedah.

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She also faces a charge of receiving RM200,000 for approving an event management company for SSM Bizfair 2018 in Sabah.

The offences were allegedly committed between December 2015 and March 2019 under the MACC Act 2009.

Zahrah was also ordered to defend two counts of abetting her son, Abdulazeez Wan Ruslan, in receiving RM160,000.

She faces two further counts of consenting to SSM making a shareholding investment in another company.

Judge Azura acquitted and discharged Zahrah of 20 other charges after finding insufficient evidence.

“The prosecution failed to adduce strong evidence to establish the essential elements,” she said.

Abdulazeez was ordered to enter his defence on two charges of receiving RM85,000 in bribes.

Both accused elected to give sworn statements from the witness stand.

The court maintained the previously fixed trial dates from April to July this year.

 The Sun Malaysia