D-G’s bribery case centres on bids to bring in Bangladeshis

KUALA LUMPUR: The bribery trial of former Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don centred on 47 applications to bring in Bangladeshi workers.

The department’s foreign worker management division secretary Datuk Wan Ali Besar, 51, told the Sessions Court the applications were processed through the Foreign Workers Monitoring System (FORM) upon getting approval from the Home Minister.

Two former home ministers, Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar, approved the applications during their time respectively.

Wan Ali said the Bangladeshis came in to work in the industrial, service, agricultural, plantation and manufacturing sectors.

Wan Ali, who is attached to the Home Ministry, said the representatives of six ministries and agencies would then interview the employers on certain dates and endorse their applications accordingly.

Wahid, 57, represented by lead counsel Datuk V. Sithambaram, had claimed trial on Aug 19 last year to receiving bribes.

He is alleged to have agreed to accept a bribe of RM60,000 from businessman Datuk Low Chang Hian as part of the payment to expedite the approval of entry visa applications for 4,337 Bangladeshis.

The father of two, later transferred to the Public Service Department, is said to have committed the offence at Jalan Lembah Ledang off Jalan Duta here at 10.15pm on July 10.

When questioned by DPP Nik Azrin Zairin Nik Abdullah, Wan Ali — the fifth prosecution witness — said the employers would later have to pay certain levies within 48 hours.

He told DPP Nik Azrin that employers would then be issued with temporary approval letters, valid for six months, to be brought to the Immigration Department to be issued visas with references.

Asked on the companies which had applied for the workers, he said they included Ambang Wijaya (M) Sdn Bhd, Asas Juta Worldwide Sdn Bhd, SMI Association of Malaysia, SME Associates Sdn Bhd, Wawasan Wangi Sdn Bhd and Gala Distinction Sdn Bhd. The hearing continues today