Sessions court judge Suzana Hussin ordered Saifullah Minggu, 33, to enter his defence after finding that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case in eight of the 19 charges levelled against the then minister’s former senior private secretary, Berita Harian reported.

The eight charges involve the alleged receipt by Saifullah of RM1,765,000 in bribes from Inter Bev Network Sdn Bhd owner Ronald Seto through Roslan Lahada.

The sum was allegedly an incentive for Saifullah to secure for Inter Bev the tender for brand and creative production services.

Saifullah was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the value of the claims or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Red Box Karaoke and Coffee Bean outlet at the Pavilion Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur; at the senior private secretary’s office at the ministry in Putrajaya; at Vipod Residences in Temasya Anggun, Glenmarie, Selangor, and at the Petronas petrol station in Dengkil.

The offences were allegedly committed between Dec 21, 2018 and March 1, 2019.

Mohamaddin Ketapi was the tourism, arts and culture minister at the material time when the offences were allegedly committed.

Suzana acquitted Saifullah of 11 other charges, involving soliciting and receiving an RM820,530 bribe, in connection with the same tender.

Suzana also acquitted Saifullah’s fiancée, Nurfadziana Kadir, 30, of charges of conspiring with him to receive a RM232,000 bribe after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against her.

Suzana set April 17 for the defence case.