Facts Of The Case

Bandar Seri Begawan - Top lawyers from Malaysia and England as well as local Senior Deputy Public Prosecutors are appearing before Chief justice, Dato Mohammad Saied.

Ex-minister Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail and Wong Tim Kai, the contractor, were each charged with 10 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and seven charges under the Penal Code.

In the 10 charges under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail as a Minister, of Development was alleged to have: - Agreed to accept a house, a $465,000 bribe and other bribes of 1,752 hectares of land, eight residential houses, $150,000.40 deposit for the purchase of a piece of land at Kg Katok and took a letter of guarantee as a security for a loan of $1,350,000 at a bank.

He also accepted a deposit of $50,000 and agreed to accept a bribe as loan guarantee as a security for a bank loan of $3,928,322.11 in repayment for a bank loan and agreed to accept the full purchase price of a shop house for his daughter. Under the Penal Code, seven charges were made against Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail. All the above offences were committed between July 1992 and May

2001, the court heard.

Meanwhile, Wang Tim Kai is facing 10 corruption charges in relation to the corresponding charges made against the former minister. Wong Tim Kai was also charged with seven offences under the Penal Code for having given or agreed to give valuable things to Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail in relation to the corresponding seven charges made against Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail.

The Magistrate Court released Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail and Wong Kim Tai on a court bail of $100,000 each or two local sureties of $50,000 each.

The court also ordered their passports impounded. They are pleading not guilty to all charges.

Andrew Macrae from England supported by Maggie Wong, AldilaHj Mohd Salleh, and Nabil Daraina all from Attorney General's Chambers are appearing for the prosecution.

Meanwhile, top Malaysian lawyer Christopher Fernando and Balwant Singh Sidhu supported by Ahmad Basuni Roy Prabhakaran are appearing for the defendants.

The local legal firms involved are Abraham, Davidson and Fathan & Rudi Lee.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with