KUALA LUMPUR, A company director has been charged with soliciting a RM5 million bribe — allegedly using the name of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) — to prevent legal action against independent trust firm UBB Amanah Bhd.
P Kuhan Arunasalam, 39, faces one count of seeking the bribe from V Siva Ananthan in July 2024 at a restaurant in Bangsar. The charge, filed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1), carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Kuhan pleaded not guilty.
Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin granted bail of RM20,000, ordered his passport to be surrendered, and required him to report to the MACC once a month. Prosecution officer Selvam T Armugom led the case, while lawyer Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin represented the accused.
Kuhan is believed to be linked to Spherix Sdn Bhd, described as a digital compliance and traceability platform. In response, the SC reiterated that it does not comment on ongoing cases and stressed that it takes a serious view of any unauthorised use of its name for endorsements or solicitations.
