Judge Nasir Nordin ordered for Mazlan Mahadi, 54, to be freed after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.

“Based on the testimony of second prosecution witness Hafiz Hassan, it clearly shows that Amazon Web Services recommended the company, MMSC Ventures Sdn Bhd, for the project.

“Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged without being called to defend himself,” Bernama reported the judge as saying.

A total of 14 prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, which began on March 26, 2024.

Mazlan was accused of using his position as business development director at Selangor Smart Delivery Unit Innovations Sdn Bhd (SSDU Innovations) to propose MMSC Ventures, a company owned by a relative, for direct appointment for a contract worth RM1,797,865.58.

The offence was allegedly committed at the SSDU Innovations office in Petaling Jaya on March 25, 2020.

Mazlan was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin while Mazlan was represented by lawyers K Kumaraendran and Teh See Khoon.