Former Malaysian Human Resources Minister charged with accepting RM1.097 million in bribes

Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, a former Malaysian Human Resources Minister, has been indicted on multiple corruption charges involving a substantial sum of money. He appeared at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to face three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM1.097 million.

The alleged offenses are connected to the approval of 1,000 foreign worker quotas for a company approximately four years ago. Saravanan, who also holds the position of Deputy President of MIC, entered a plea of not guilty to all charges after they were read to him.

According to the charges, between June 16, 2022, and July 7, 2022, Saravanan allegedly received RM150,000 and RM350,000 in cash from Tan Teck Lim, the Director of Vectica Resources Sdn Bhd, through an intermediary. These payments were reportedly made as an inducement for granting the foreign worker quotas to TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd.

A third charge involves Saravanan allegedly receiving RM597,000 via a bank check, deposited into the account of Big Seven Ventures Sdn Bhd, on July 7, 2022. This sum was also allegedly for facilitating the approval of foreign worker quotas. If convicted under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, Saravanan faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000.