Businessman Faisal Hamzah claimed trial when the charge, framed under Section 16(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, was read out before sessions court judge Rozina Ayob, Berita Harian reported.

If convicted, he faces imprisonment for a term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification received.

Faisal, the son of former home minister and current opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, was charged with accepting the sum from Izmir Hamid to secure the appointment of Rimba Merpati Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Per My Solutions as marketing consultants to HeiTech Padu Bhd.

The 40-year-old was accused of committing the offence in March 2018 at an office near Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.

The alleged offence was said to be linked to the purported award to technology services firm HeiTech Padu of a RM33 million tender by the Companies Commission of Malaysia for the supply, rental, implementation, training, support and maintenance of IT security infrastructure.

The court set bail at RM25,000 with one surety, which was posted to secure Faisal’s release.

He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court until the trial is completed.

The court fixed the case for mention on July 5.

Mahadi Abdul Jumaat acted for the prosecution while Faisal was represented by Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal.

Last year, Faisal claimed trial in the Seremban sessions court to a charge of providing false information in connection with cooking oil subsidies.