guilty Friday to three corruption charges over alleged payments tied to the approval of 1,000 foreign-worker quotas.

Saravanan, 58, entered the pleas before Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi. Prosecutors allege he received a total of RM1.097 million in three payments in June and July 2022, when he was human resources minister. The payments were allegedly connected to an application by TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd for quotas to employ 1,000 foreign workers.

According to the charges reported by Bernama, Malaysia’s state-owned news agency, Saravanan allegedly received RM150,000 in cash on June 16, 2022, followed by RM350,000 in cash on July 7. A third charge alleges he received RM597,000 through a cheque deposited into an account belonging to Big Seven Ventures Sdn Bhd on July 7.

Prosecutors allege the payments came from Vectica Resources Sdn Bhd director Tan Teck Lim through Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad. The first payment was allegedly an inducement to approve TYKB Engineering's quota application, while the two July payments were allegedly rewards for approving it.

The three charges were brought under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. A conviction under the provision, read with Section 24(1), carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the gratification involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The court granted Saravanan RM450,000 bail and ordered him to report to the nearest Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office once every three months and not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly. The case is due back in court on Sept. 29. Saravanan is the MP for Tapah and deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress.

Before being charged, Saravanan disputed the allegations against him. In a video message circulated Thursday, he said a person whose statement had linked him to the foreign-worker issue later withdrew the allegations through a statutory declaration. 

Saravanan said he had never contacted or known the individual and was prepared to defend himself in court.