Lajim's son charged with graft

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Nizam Lajim, 31, (photo) the son of a former deputy minister, was charged today in the Sessions Court with using a forged document over a road construction project in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Mohd Nizam, son of former deputy housing and local government minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, pleaded not guilty to having used a forged document dated July 25, 2012, as a genuine one carrying the recommendation of Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The document was said to be an addendum listing companies proposed for the construction of roads in Mukim 6 Linau and Mukim 7 Tg Semberong in Batu Pahat, Johor.

The companies listed were Moral Bahagia Sdn Bhd, Prestasi Reka Sdn Bhd, Satria Mara Sdn Bhd, Sanjung Sempurna Sdn Bhd, Pertama Makmur Sdn Bhd, Mansashi Sdn Bhd, H & A Construction Sdn Bhd, Nisa Consolidated Sdn Bhd, Bina-Mas Construction Sdn Bhd and Landscape Sdn Bhd.

Mohd Nizam was charged with having committed the offence at Berjaya Starbucks Coffee, Lot No. G40, The Mall, No. 100, Jalan Putra, here, at 3.40 pm on Aug 8 last year.

He was charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code and the penalty, under Section 465 of the same code, is a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afifah Mamat alias Yusof of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) proposed RM50,000 bail with one surety and for the accused to surrender his passport to the court.

Counsel Datuk K. Kumarendran sought to have the bail reduced to RM10,000, saying that his client had cooperated fully with the MACC since the investigation into the case began in August last year.

Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin set bail at RM20,000 with one surety, ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court, and set June 25 for case management.

Lajim, a former deputy minister who defected from ruling party Umno to form pro-opposition Pakatan Perubahan Sabah late last year, was present in court when the charge was read out to his son.

Lajim’s son’s prosecution comes amid what is seen as a crackdown on Pakatan Rakyat leaders and government critics in recent weeks as the opposition mounted loud protests against what it claimed to be a rigged Election 2013 result.

Three leaders from the bloc and a student activist were recently arrested and detained for sedition in relation to the protests. All four have been released pending trial.

However, it is unclear if the charges against Lajim’s son are linked to the clampdown.

When approached outside the Jalan Duta court complex here, Lajim, a former Umno supreme council member, refused to comment.

Lajim lost the Beaufort parliamentary seat but won the Klias State seat instead.