KUALA LUMPUR: A former staff member of Istana Negara has been charged in the sessions court here with accepting bribes and making false claims related to supplies for the palace.
Ibrahim Ishak, 43, pleaded not guilty to all nine charges after they were read before judge Rosli Ahmad.
The former head of the palace’s administration and information technology unit was charged with submitting four company invoices and two goods/services received notes with false details.
The claimed value totalled RM7.68 million, which was higher than the actual supply cost of RM6.03 million. He allegedly committed the offence at Istana Negara’s finance unit office between April 13, 2022 and Jan 2, 2024.
Ibrahim was also charged with soliciting bribes of RM210,000 and S$8,000 to approve the supply of souvenir watches in conjunction with the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s installation last year.
The former civil servant was also charged with accepting RM72,000 in kickbacks to approve an order of “royal gift envelopes”.
Each charge is punishable by a maximum 20 years in jail and a minimum fine of RM10,000 upon conviction.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Wan Ahmad Afzal while the accused was represented by lawyer Aiman Abdul Rahman.
Rosli fixed bail at RM50,000 with one surety and set March 4 for case mention.
