KUALA LUMPUR – Former Director-General of the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO), Datuk Mohd Razali Alias, 60, today pleaded not guilty to three corruption charges in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
Razali, a retired senior officer of the Malaysian Armed Forces who once headed the military’s defence intelligence arm, faced the charges before Judge Suzana Hussin. He stood calmly as the accusations were read out and formally entered his plea, asking for trial on all counts. 
The first charge alleges that between August and November 2024, Razali corruptly received US$20,000 from Sheikh Ahmad Nafiq Sheikh A. Rahman, a director of Syarikat Intelligence PC Centre Sdn Bhd, at the MDIO headquarters in Kem Kementah, Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur. The prosecution says the payment was intended as an inducement for Razali to approve the certification and acceptance of services for the procurement of maintenance and support services for the Cyber Defence Operations Centre system. 
In the second count, he is accused of receiving RM26,800 for his wife, Datin Azarina Bakia, allegedly paid by the same individual for return air tickets between Kuala Lumpur and Malaga, Spain. The third charge similarly alleges he received RM37,800 for return air tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Estonia for his wife. Both of these are said to have been connected to his official position and duties. 
The first offence was framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. The second and third counts were brought under Section 165 of the Penal Code, each punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. 
Deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How initially sought bail up to RM200,000 with conditions including passport surrender, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences and Razali’s history of overseas travel. 
Defending Razali, senior counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent told the court that the proposed bail was excessive and argued that the purpose of bail is to secure court attendance, not to penalise the accused. He said Razali had complied with repeated summonses from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and had never failed to appear, and suggested a lower bail amount with passport surrender as sufficient. 
Judge Suzana Hussin allowed release on bail of RM50,000 in one surety and ordered that Razali’s passport be held by the court until the case is resolved. The matter is set for another mention on March 16 when the defence and prosecution will exchange documents. -MalayaDailyToday
