The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today fixed April 11 to start the trial of former senior manager of Sime Darby Engineering Sdn Bhd Mazhazmi Jamaluddin, charged with accepting a RM200,000 bribe for a contract worth USD134.2 million (RM420 million) to build and sell three barges.

Judge Rozilah Salleh also set aside April 12, 18, 25 and 26 for the hearing.

Since the two sides had agreed to the dates, she said, "the hearing will continue even when there is no counsel present".

DPP Anthony Kevin Morais of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said that he will be calling about 10 witnesses to the stand.

Mazhazmi, who is represented by Shamsul Sulaiman, was charged with accepting the cash from the owner of MLC Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd, Redzuan Goh Mohammed Karian, after allegedly proposing the company for the construction and sale of the barges.

Mazhazmi, 36, who was senior manager of marine services, is alleged to have committed the offence at the MLC Shipbuilding premises in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 31,2008.

He had claimed trial last Dec 21 and was allowed bail of RM20,000 in one surety.

He was charged under Section 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000 whichever is higher.

- Bernama