JOHOR BAHRU (Feb 22): A businessman claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to soliciting bribes worth RM12.8 million and receiving RM1.5 million in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme.

Datuk Teo Wee Cheng, 65, claimed trial to nine charges of soliciting and receiving bribes before judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail here. He is the third person to be charged in court over ties to the programme, which was established to help Bumiputera contractors.

Two of the charges were for soliciting bribes worth RM11.3 million, while the other seven charges were for receiving a total of RM1.5 million in bribes. 

Teo solicited and received these bribes in exchange for helping Muar Usaha Bakti Sdn Bhd and TS Dynamic Construction Sdn Bhd procure contracts and subcontractor jobs involving various road upgrade and road construction projects in rural Johor from the government, allegedly by using his government connections.

All nine charges were framed under Section 16(a)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, and punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, which carries up to 20 years' jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The prosecution was represented by Ahmad Akram Gharib and Chan Choon Yew, while the accused was represented by Cains Tan.

After the charges were read out to Teo, Ahmad Kamal then set RM500,000 as the bail amount in one surety. 

The judge also required Teo to surrender his passport to the court, and fixed May 17 for case mention. 

Teo is also the founder of Muar-based listed furniture maker SHH Resources Holdings Bhd, where he is the second largest shareholder with deemed interest of 17.29%.

On Tuesday (Feb 21), Teo resigned from his position as SHH managing director, citing other personal commitment. The position was taken over by his daugher Teo Chee Teng.

Shares of SHH fell nine sen or 13.9% to 56 sen on Wednesday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM56 million.

Jana Wibawa, or Program Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa, was mooted during the Perikatan Nasional administration, where Bersatu was a component party.

The government at the time said the programme was set up to improve the capacity of Bumiputera contractors in the construction industry, as well as to expedite project execution to spur the nation’s economic recovery post Covid-19.

The MACC is currently investigating claims that contractors chosen for the programme were required to allegedly deposit money amounting to RM300 million in Bersatu’s party accounts. Also charged in court over the alleged bribery involving Jana Wibawa were Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, and Bersatu deputy division chief of Segambut Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad. 

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Wan Saiful pleads not guilty and claims trial to accepting almost RM7 mil bribe over Jana Wibawa