Two more land officers charged with bauxite graft

KUANTAN: Two more Pahang Land and Mines officers have been hauled to court on charges of accepting bribes to protect an illegal bauxite miner.

Civil assistant Mohd Nurfirdaus Rahmad, 28, was charged with accepting RM8,500 from Anurul Hiraq Abu Bakar, who was mining bauxite illegally.

The money was an inducement to protect Anurul Hiraq through the sale of 50 pieces of 13D forms, which would enable him to transport bauxite to the Kuantan Port.

The offence was allegedly committed in Bukit Sekilau here at about 6.05pm on Jan 6.

Assistant land administrator Abdul Rahim Sulaiman, 53, was charged with abetting Mohd Nurfirdaus in soliciting the money from Anurul Hiraq at 9.16pm on the same day in Taman Mutiara Mahkota here.

Both accused, who were not represented, claimed trial.

If convicted, they can be jailed not more than 20 years and fined not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Sessions Court judge Habibah Mohamed Yusof granted bail at RM4,000 each and fixed Feb 15 for mention.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Public Prosecutor Syafinaz Shahbudin appeared for the prosecution.

On Jan 13, two officers from the department, assistant land officer Fadly Ab Malek, 35, and an administrative and diplomatic officer Syed Umar Khalil Syed Khalid, 34, were charged with accepting RM30,000 from an unlicenced bauxite miner.

Fadly was also charged with accepting RM35,000 from the miner to sell 13D forms.

Both pleaded not guilty and were allowed bail at RM10,000 each. Case mention was fixed for Feb 5.