Former Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan’s RM1.097 Million Corruption Trial Fixed For March 2027

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 – The Sessions Court on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, scheduled trial dates spanning March to August 2027 for former Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, who faces three corruption charges involving RM1.097 million related to foreign worker quota approvals.

Sessions Court Judge Azrul Darus fixed March 4, April 12, May 24 to 27, August 17 to 19, and August 23 to 25, 2027, for the proceedings after both prosecution and defense counsels reached an agreement on the timeline, with Saravanan’s defense team advocating for an early trial date.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin informed the court that the prosecution delivered 31 pages of relevant case documents to the defense team on Tuesday morning pursuant to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). Defense counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent confirmed receipt of the documents.

The prosecution disclosed plans to call 25 witnesses to testify during the trial. Judge Azrul subsequently ordered the defense team to submit its formal statement of defense under Section 62 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 by January 15, 2027.

Saravanan previously pleaded not guilty to all three graft charges when arraigned in the Sessions Court on August 28, 2026.

According to the charge sheets, Saravanan is accused of accepting cash payments of RM150,000 and RM350,000 from Vectica Resources Sdn Bhd director Tan Teck Lim, 65, through intermediary Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad, 38, at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort and Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, on June 16 and July 7, 2022, respectively.

The third charge alleges that Saravanan received RM597,000 from Tan for the same objective via a cheque credited into Big Seven Ventures Sdn Bhd’s Maybank Islamic Berhad account at the Old Klang Road branch in Taman Desa on July 7, 2022.

The illicit payments were allegedly offered as inducements and rewards for Saravanan, in his capacity as the Human Resources Minister at the time, to approve an application by TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd for a quota of 1,000 foreign workers.

All three charges were brought under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act. If convicted, Saravanan faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the gratification sum or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Trial Timeline, Legal Provisions, and Specific Charges

Key trial schedules, statutory references, and bribery charges include:

• Fixed Trial Dates (2027): March 4, April 12, May 24–27, August 17–19, and August 23–25, 2027.
• Witnesses & Defense Submissions: Prosecution calling 25 witnesses; defense statement filing deadline set for January 15, 2027.
• Graft Amount Breakdown: RM1.097 million total (RM150k cash + RM350k cash + RM597k cheque) allegedly received from Vectica Resources director Tan Teck Lim.
• Quotas & Company Involved: Approval of 1,000 foreign worker quotas for TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd.
• Statutory Framework: Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 (maximum 20 years imprisonment and 5x fine upon conviction).

–NMT