Ex-Minister Pleads Not Guilty To 12 Charges
By Rol Ezam

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's former development minister Pengiran Indera Wijaya Pengiran Dr. Hj Ismail Saturday pleaded not guilty to 12 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Penal Code respectively.

Previously, the ex-minister faced 17 charges, 10 of which were under the Prevention of Corruption Act and another seven under the Penal Code.

In the High Court Saturday, he denied to three charges for corruptly accepting gratifications and nine charges for accepting valuable things for himself for no consideration or a consideration which he knew to be inadequate.

Following are the 12 charges:

IN RELATION TO LOT 30823, KG PENGKALAN GADONG

1st Charge

That you - between July 1992 and May 28, 2001 in Brunei Darussalam - being an agent, namely the Minister of Development in the Ministry of Development of Brunei Darussalam, did corruptly accept from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sendirian Berhad (TED), for yourself a gratification - namely a house built by TED at Lot 30823Kg Pengkalan Gadong together with B$465,000 from purported monthly rentals of B$5000 in respect of the said property - as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do or for having done or forborne to do acts in relation to your principal's affairs or business, namely,

a) Making representations to civil servants in relation to TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mulaut Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1991,

b) awarding the Kg Tungku Phase III, Housing Package 3, Landless Citizens Scheme worth B$5,485,618 to TED in Dec 1993,

c) Making representations to civil servants regarding TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mulaut Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1994,

d) Awarding the Drainage and Roadworks for Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$1,884,925 to TED in March 1995,

e) awarding the Kg Lambak Kiri, Landless Citizens Scheme Housing project worth B$3,105,378.50 to TED in July 1995,

f) awarding Variation Order No 1 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$ 224,909.18 to TED in Sept 1995,

g) awarding Variation Order No 2 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$5,418,413 to TED in Oct 1995,

h) Awarding the Bangunan Mufti Kerajaan dan Dewan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien `Earthworks' project worth B$9,973,274 to TED in Dec 1995,

i) awarding Variation Order No 3 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$5,573,475 to TED in July 1996,

j) awarding Variation Work Order No 4 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$134,116 to TED in Jan 1997,

k) Awarding Variation Order No 5 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$715,738.68 to TED in Jan 1997.

and you have thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131 and punishable under section 7(1) of the same.

IN RELATION TO LOT 33999, KG KATOK, GADONG

2nd Charge

That you, between Nov 1993 and March 1997 in Brunei Darussalam, being an agent, namely the Minister of Development at the Ministry of Development in the Ministry of Development of Brunei Darussalam, did corruptly agree to accept from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sdn Bhd (TED), for yourself a gratification - namely eight residential houses to be developed at Lot 33999 Kg Katok, Gadong - as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do or for having done or forborne to do acts in relation to your principal's affairs or business, namely,

a) Making representation to civil servants in relation to TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mulaut Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1991,

b) Awarding the Kg Tungku Phase III Housing Package 3, Landless Citizens Scheme worth B$5,485,618 to TED in Dec 1993,

c) Making representations to civil servants regarding TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mulaut Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1994,

d) Awarding the Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$1,884,925 to TED in March 1995,

e) Awarding the Kg Lambak Kiri, Landless Citizens Scheme Housing project worth B$3,105,378.50 to TED in July 1995,

f) Awarding Variation Order No 1 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$224,909.18 to TED in Sept 1995,

g) Awarding Variation Order No 2 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$5,418,413 to TED in Oct 1995, h) awarding the Bangunan Mufti Kerajaan dan Dewan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien `Earthworks' project worth B$9,973,274 to TED in Dec 1995,

i) Awarding Variation Order No 3 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$5,573,475 to TED in July 1996,

j) Awarding Variation Work Order No 4 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$134,116 to TED in Jan 1997,

k) Awarding Variation Order No 5 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$715,738.68 to TED in Jan 1997,

and you have thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131 and punishable under section 7(1) of the same.

IN RELATION TO UNIT 9, LOT 701, KG KIARONG

3rd Charge

That you, between April 18, 1995 and April 29, 1999 in Brunei Darussalam, being an agent, namely the Minister of Development in the Ministry of

Development of Brunei Darussalam, did corruptly accept from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sendirian Berhad (TED), for your daughter (Dayangku Suzylawati binti Pengiran Indera Wijaya Pengiran Dr Haji Ismail), a gratification - namely a forbearance to pay the full purchase price of B$930,000 for a shophouse at Unit 9 of Block D at Lot 701 Kg Kiarong - as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do or for having done or forborne to do acts in relation to your principal's affairs or business, namely,

a) Making representations to civil servants in relation to TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mulaut Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1991,

b) Awarding the Kg Tungku Phase III Housing Package 3, Landless Citizens Scheme worth B$5,485,618 to TED in Dec 1993, c) making representations to civil servants regarding TED's application for temporary occupation licence of land at Mutant Industrial Area and appeals therefrom in 1994,

d) Awarding the Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$1,884,925 to TED in March 1995,

e) Awarding the Kg Lambak Kiri, Landless Citizens Scheme Housing project worth B83,105,378.50 to TED in July 1995,

f) awarding Variation Order No 1 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$224,909.18 to TED in Sept 1995,

g) awarding Variation Order No 2 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$5,418,413 to TED in Oct 1995,

h) awarding the Bangunan Mufti Kerajaan dan Dewan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien'Earthworks' project worth B89,973,274 to TED in Dec 1995,

i) awarding Variation Order No 3 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B85,573,475 to TED in July 1996,

j) awarding Variation Order No 4 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$134,116 to TED in Jan 1997,

k) awarding Variation Order No 5 in respect of Drainage and Roadworks for the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project worth B$715,738.68 to TED in July 1997,

and you have thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131 and punishable under section 7(1) of the same.

IN RELATION TO LOT 30823, KG PENGKALAN GADONG

4th Charge

That you, between July 1992 and July 1993, in Brunei Darussalam, being a public servant, namely the Minister of Development in the Ministry of Development of Brunei Darussalam, did accept for yourself, a valuable thing - namely, a house built at Lot 30823 Kg Pengkalan Gadong - for no consideration or a consideration which you knew to be inadequate, from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sendirian Berhad, whom you knew to have been, or to be, or to be likely to be concerned in any proceeding or business transacted or about to be transacted by you, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22.

IN RELATION TO LOT 33999, KG KATOK, GADONG

5th Charge

That you, between November 1993 and March 1994, in Brunei Darussalam, being a public servant, namely the Minister of Development in the Ministry of Development of Brunei Darussalam, did accept for yourself, a valuable thing - namely, 1.752 hectares of land at Lot 33999 Kg Katok, Gadong - for no consideration or a consideration which you knew to be inadequate, from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sendirian Berhad, whom you knew to have been, or to be, or to be likely to be concerned in any proceeding or business transacted or about to be transacted by you, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22.

6th Charge

That you, between November 1993 and March 1997 in Brunei Darussalam, being a public servant, namely the Minister of Development in the Ministry of Development of Brunei Darussalam, did agree to accept for yourself a valuable thing - namely eight residential houses to be developed at Lot 33999 Kg Katok, Gadong - for no consideration or a consideration which you knew to be inadequate from Wong Tim Kai, Managing Director of Ted Sendirian Berhad, whom you knew to have been, or to be, or to be likely to be concerned in any proceeding or business transacted or about to be transacted by you, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22. (To be continued) -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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