PKR man was caught in anti-graft sting operation, court told

(The Star) – A Sessions Court here was told that a trap was set up to nab former PKR executive council member Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu accepting a RM100,000 bribe at a restaurant here last year.

Businessman Mohamad Imran Abdullah, 34, who acted as the agent provocateur for the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), said officers from the agency were on standby as he and another officer, Norliza Mokhtar who posed as his girlfriend, were at the Kluang Station Restaurant here to hand over the money.

Mohamad Imran was testifying against former Perak PKR exco members Mohd Osman, 57, and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52; former Perak Tengah district councillors Usaili Alias, 56, and Zul Hassan, 45; and businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail, 31, who face various corruption charges over their involvement in a proposed development project in Seri Iskandar.

Charges against a sixth person, Perak Development Corporation technician Ruslan Sahat, have since been dropped after his death two months ago.

“Mohd Osman, Usaili and Ruslan were already seated when Norliza and I arrived at the restaurant,” Mohamad Imran said of the meeting on the evening of Aug 19, 2008.

“I told Usaili that I had brought the money as asked and hoped that the process of my application to develop the project would go on smoothly,” he said.

Mohamad Imran said he then took out his briefcase, which contained the RM100,000, and put it on the table, pushing it towards Mohd Osman.

“I unzipped the briefcase and showed Mohd Osman the notes and while observing the money, he directed me to hand it over to Usaili,” he said, adding that Usaili then pulled the briefcase towards himself.

Mohamad Imran, who made an excuse to leave and headed to the payment counter after that, said ACA officers moved in to arrest the three as soon as he left a miscall on ACA officer Azam Baki’s mobile phone as instructed.

Earlier during the trial, Mohamad Imran told the court that the ACA had made arrangements for Zul, Fairul Azrim and Ruslan to spend the night at the Sri Sayang Apartment at Batu Feringgi, Penang, on Aug 14, 2008.

“Arrangements were also made for me to bring along three Chinese national women as demanded by the men,” Mohamad Imran said, adding that he also left the men with a crate of beer as they had requested.

“We did not check out as planned on Aug 15, 2008, as Ruslan said that Usaili and Mohd Osman were coming to Penang to stay,” Mohamad Imran claimed.

However, only Usaili arrived that night.

“Usaili told me that Mohd Osman was still in Permatang Pauh and that maybe he could arrange for a meeting the next day,” he added.

Mohamad Imran said he finally met Mohd Osman at the Aquarius Coffee House of the Summit Hotel in Bukit Mertajam on Aug 16, 2008.

“During the meeting, I took out RM5,000 from my briefcase and gave it to Mohd Osman, saying that as per instructions from Usaili, the money was for his help to get me the project in Seri Iskandar,” he said.

Mohd Osman, he added, did not take the money but gestured with his hand to hand it over to Usaili.

“I expressed hope that my project would be approved and then Usaili asked if there was anything else I could help with in Permatang Pauh,” Mohamad Imran said, adding that Usaili then asked for more money ranging between RM30,000 and RM50,000.

“I asked if they were sure they wanted only between RM30,000 and RM50,000 as the project was huge and worth RM180mil.

“Mohd Osman nodded his head and said ‘Okay-lah, RM100,000.’

“And when I asked for reassurance that he would help get my project approved he said ‘Boleh’ (can do) and told me to deal with Usaili,” added Mohamad Imran.

Hearing before Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh continues on Wednesday.