Ex-defence intelligence DG charged with accepting US$20,000 bribe, flight tickets

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Defence Intelligence director-general Datuk Mohd Razali Alias was charged at the Sessions Court here today on three counts of accepting a bribe amounting to US$20,000 and receiving payments totalling RM64,600 for the purchase of an overseas flight ticket for his wife, two years ago.

However, Mohd Razali, 60, pleaded not guilty to all three charges after they were read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

"I understand the charges. I plead not guilty and request to be tried," he said calmly after the charges were read separately.

For the first charge, Mohd Razali is accused of corruptly accepting a bribe of USD20,000 for himself from Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq Sheikh A. Rahman, 45, at the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO), Kementah Camp, Jalan Padang Tembak here, between August and November 2024.

The bribe was allegedly offered as an inducement for him, in his capacity as director-general of the MDIO of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), to approve the certificate of verification and acceptance of services for payment purposes under the procurement of maintenance and support services for the Cyber Defence Operations Centre (CDOC) system of the Defence Intelligence Staff Division (BSPP).

The charge is framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694), punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

For the second charge, Mohd Razali, in his capacity as director-general of MDIO, is accused of receiving a payment totalling RM26,800 for his wife, Datin Azarina Bakia, 59, for the purchase of return flight tickets between Kuala Lumpur and Malaga, Spain. The payment was allegedly made by Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq, director of Syarikat Intelligence PC Centre Sdn Bhd, which the accused is said to have known was connected to his official duties.

The offence was allegedly committed at the same location on Nov 15, 2024, and framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code (Act 574), which carries a punishment of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, for the third charge, Mohd Razali is accused of receiving a payment of RM37,800 for his wife, Azarina, for the purchase of return flight tickets between Kuala Lumpur and Estonia from Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq. The offence was allegedly committed at the same location on April 28, 2025, and framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for a similar punishment.

Judge Suzana set March 16 for case mention and allowed Mohd Razali to be released on bail of RM50,000 in one surety. The court also ordered him to surrender his passport until the disposal of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Law Chin How proposed bail of RM200,000, citing the seriousness of the charges. He noted that although two charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, one charge was non-bailable as it was brought under Section 16(a)(B).

"Taking into account the amounts involved in the two charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code relating to the flight tickets, and considering the seriousness, sensitivity and nature of the offences, as well as the position held by the accused, we are seeking bail in the sum of RM200,000.

"The condition requiring the accused to surrender his passport is viewed as an additional safeguard, as there is a possibility of flight given that he has recently retired and is understood to travel abroad frequently to attend various events," said Law, who was assisted by DPPs Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin and Hazel Tan Jia Qi.

Counsel for the accused, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, said the bail amount sought by the prosecution was unreasonable, stressing that the purpose of bail was solely to secure the accused's attendance in court and that the accused was presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"The court should take into account that the accused has cooperated fully with the authorities throughout the investigation, and I submit that the amounts stated in the charges should not be used as the basis for determining bail. My client will attend court at every mention of the case and is prepared to surrender his passport to the court.

"His retirement is scheduled for December, and the programmes he is said to attend are related to official duties. Upon retirement, he will no longer be required to travel abroad frequently," he said, adding that his client has served in the Armed Forces for about 40 years.

Previously the media reported that 23 individuals, including two high-ranking officers and four senior officers of the MAF, were detained by the MACC to assist in investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power. The case involves issues related to procurement and the use of public funds, as well as allegations of receiving bribes from several companies linked to the procurement of supplies at the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT) and the Ministry of Defence (Mindef). - BERNAMA