Judge Suzana Hussin dismissed the application by Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd director Datuk Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh, 49, after hearing submissions by both parties.
Earlier, lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing the accused, told the court that his client wanted to apply for a temporary release of his passport to go to the United Kingdom to send his son, who is pursuing studies there, and also to the United States for business purposes. Deputy Public Prosecutor from the MACC, Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, said the defence would have to file a notice of application and a supporting affidavit to support the application for the purpose.
He was alleged to have offered the bribe through Datuk Tan Ser Lay, 60, as an inducement for the then-communications and multimedia minister to expedite the takeover process of KL Tower concession by the company.