Padang Serai MP Datuk Azman Nasrudin denies abetting a RM400,000 bribe for a Kedah cattle farming project, with bail set at RM75,000
SHAH ALAM: Padang Serai Member of Parliament Datuk Azman Nasrudin pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of abetting in a RM400,000 corruption case.
The charge relates to a joint-venture beef cattle farming project with state-owned Kedah Agro Holding Berhad (KAHB) five years ago.
Azman, 53, is accused of abetting businessman Amar Assuat Abu Bakar in accepting a RM400,000 bribe from Mohd Hassanaim Fauzi.
The payment was allegedly a reward for assisting Mohd Hassanaim in securing the cattle farming project at Ladang Fidlot Kedah Agro in Kubang Pasu.
Azman is accused of directing the KAHB chief executive officer to issue a letter of offer for the project.
The offence was allegedly committed on June 23, 2020, on a roadside opposite an office in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor.
He was charged under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009, read together with Section 16(a)(A).
If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe value or RM10,000.
Deputy public prosecutors Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin and Asmaa’ Zamri led the prosecution, proposing bail of RM100,000.
Defence lawyer N. Surendran objected to the bail amount and a request for Azman to surrender his passport.
Surendran argued his client posed no flight risk as an MP required to attend parliament and a father of five.
Judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin set bail at RM75,000 in one local surety and ordered the passport surrendered.
The case has been fixed for re-mention on January 17, 2026.
Surendran informed the court the defence intends to file an application to strike out the charge.
In a separate proceeding, businessman Amar Assuat also pleaded not guilty to two related bribery charges.
He is accused of soliciting and receiving the RM400,000 bribe on June 20 and 23, 2020.
Judge Mohd Nasir granted him bail of RM75,000 with conditions to report monthly to the MACC.
Amar Assuat’s case has been fixed for mention on January 13, 2026. – Bernama
