Speaking to FMT, Raduan said he will submit representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) as soon as possible in a bid to have the “absurd” charges dropped.
“I am accused of approving an advance payment to the company’s CEO and of approving salary payments to him via five cheques.
“Not a single sen was for my personal benefit.
“I approved these payments because there was a financing agreement. (The payments) were within the prescribed limit and all documentation was in order,” he said.
Raduan did not respond when asked whether he plans to step down as the chairman of Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) board of directors, a position he was appointed to in February last year.
Earlier today, Raduan claimed trial to seven charges of criminal breach of trust involving MPN funds of RM271,000.
Also charged was Kefli Mahpol, CEO of MPN Global Reach Sdn Bhd, an MPN-linked company.
Both accused pleaded not guilty at the Shah Alam sessions court to the charges before judge Anita Harun this morning.
Raduan was slapped with two charges of committing CBT by transferring RM71,000 in MPN funds into Kefli’s bank account.
As a director of MPN Global Reach, Raduan is also accused of transferring RM200,000 in funds to Kefli’s account through five cheques.
The funds were said to be intended as downpayment for a programme MPN Global Reach was holding with UKMShape, an entity linked to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Raduan was charged with committing the offences at the MPN office in Country Heights in Kajang, Selangor, between March 14, 2023 and April 15 this year.
The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years in prison, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Kefli was slapped with seven charges of colluding with Raduan to commit the alleged offences under Section 109 of the Penal Code read with Section 409 of the same law, and is liable for the same punishment if convicted.
The court fixed bail at RM40,000 for each charge in one surety, and ordered both accused to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s office every month.