Bandar Seri Begawan - The former development minister yesterday told the High Court that special orders were received to coordinate and complete the major drainage and road works on the Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project, while "critical projects were negotiated" for its completion.

Former Minister of Development YAM Pg Indera Wijaya Pg Dato Dr Hj Ismail Pg Hj Damit and TED Managing Director Wong Tim Kai are facing three charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and eight charges under the Penal Code.

The former minister answered questions posed by the Queen's Counsel.

A contract of the drainage and roadworks projects that was signed on March 29, 1995 between TED and Pg Dr Ismail as Istana Project Supervisor (IPS) on behalf of the Brunei government was presented before the court during examinations by the Queen's Counsel yesterday.

Queen's Counsel then referred to a statement made by the former minister which was presented before the High Court where Pg Dato Dr Hj Ismail had mentioned that he as IPS had to execute the project through selective tendering.

Pg Dato Dr Hj Ismail in his defence replied that not all projects were executed by way of selective tender as "critical projects were negotiated".

The defendant gave an example on the completion of the Istana Nurul Izzah which also had to undergo selective tender.

Prosecution then questioned the defendant on why the tender for Lot 701, Kg Kiarong project was awarded to TED Sdn Bhd. The project consisted the construction of an access road to link the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway to Jalan Kiarong and the storm drains next to the road.

"Yes, it was a public road, but it would particularly benefit the owners of Lot 701 in Kg Kiarong. If Lot 701 was not owned by HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, we would have told them (owners) that we could not develop the roads due to the lack of funds. Special considerations were made to HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah," said Pg Dato Dr Hj Ismail.

"Knowing that there was no budget for the construction of the access road or the drainage works, I then went to see HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah who at that time, the Minister of Finance on how to fund the road and drainage works," he said.

The defendant claimed that he had sought advice from HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah on the matter of insufficient funding of Lot 701 and had come to an agreement that the matter should be handed to him in his capacity as the Minister of Development to complete the project that belonged to a royal family member.

The ex-minister said that the roads would provide accessibility to the tenants of Lot 701 and had made "special considerations" in order to complete the major road and drainage works to provide access to the shophouses in Kg Kiarong. Pg Dato Dr Ismail said that TED was the contractor for the project and had told HRH Mohamed Bolkiah that TED was capable of finishing the project together with the shophouses on Lot 701 without any difficulty.

The trial continues tomorrow.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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