Judge Rosli Ahmad handed down the sentence on Lim Kim Hai, 50, and Ang Teck Ann, 52, after they pleaded guilty. He ordered them to serve 10 months’ jail if they failed to pay the fines.

Lim was accused of receiving RM3.5 million in cash from former MEX II Sdn Bhd director Yap Wee Leong as a reward for securing three subcontractors – Villas Hub Sdn Bhd, Jade Centennial Sdn Bhd, and Bidang Bakat Sdn Bhd – for Golden Base Construction Sdn Bhd.

Ang, meanwhile, was accused of receiving RM500,000 as payment for acting as an intermediary between Lim and another individual to secure the same subcontractors.

However, both men failed to report the bribes to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the police, in violation of Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

The offence was allegedly committed at KH LIM Corporate Consultancy Sdn Bhd in Mid Valley City, between June 2017 and June 2018.

The duo were charged under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutors Fadhly Zamry, Nurul Izzati Sapifee, and M Esther Jacyntha urged the court to impose the maximum fine, stressing that public interest outweighed the interests of the two men.

“The prosecution also applies for the forfeiture of related assets, namely the cash involved in the two charges, to the government under Section 40(1) of the MACC Act 2009, as the money was unlawfully obtained,” Fadhly told the court.

The judge allowed the forfeiture application.

Defence counsel James Chow and K Ramalingam, representing Lim and Ang respectively, pleaded for lighter fines, citing their clients’ remorse and full cooperation with MACC during investigations.