{
  "id": 14682929,
  "title": "Penang statutory body chief pleads not guilty to 15 graft charges totalling RM800,000",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/penang-statutory-body-chief-pleads-not-guilty-to-15-graft-charges-14682929",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T11:25:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/15/penang-statutory-body-chief-pleads-not-guilty-to-15-graft-charges-totalling-rm800000/239242"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Penang's chief statutory body chairman, Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin, appeared in court today to deny 15 charges of accepting bribes totaling RM800,000 between June 2025 and July 2026. Prosecutors allege that Shaik received RM847,107.61 through his company, Aliran Ilham Sdn Bhd, from ATSH Management Sdn Bhd through 15 separate transactions, each ranging from RM45.51 to RM244,620. The payments were reportedly made as bribes to secure the appointment of ATSH as a subcontractor for a RM23.27 million hostel construction project at Institut Kemahiran Tinggi PERDA, Seberang Perai Selatan. Shaik's case was brought under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence and a fine equal to at least five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher. MACC deputy public prosecutors Lim Jin Hong and Nurnajihatul Idayu Mohd Azuyar requested a RM1 million bail, with conditions including passport surrender, monthly MACC office reporting, and refraining from interfering with witnesses. Shaik's legal team led by Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad contested the bail request, arguing it was excessive and lacked sufficient justification. The court granted Shaik a RM300,000 bail, requiring monthly MACC office reporting and permitting the temporary release of his passport for specific purposes. A Feb 8, 2027, deadline was set for documents to be submitted.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN, Oct 15 — The chairman of a statutory body in Penang pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here tod...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Penang statutory body chief pleads not guilty to 15 graft charges totalling RM800,000",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/penang-statutory-body-chief-pleads-not-guilty-to-15-graft-charges",
        "published": "2026-10-15T11:25:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}