KOTA BARU: A former Kelantan Padi and Rice Control director has pleaded not guilty to a charge of accepting a bribe from a rice mill operator.
Nik Yaacob Idris, 59, was charged at the Sessions Court on Wednesday under Section 17(a) of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
If found guilty, he can be jailed a maximum of 20 years, or fined five times the amount of the bribe.
He is accused of accepting a RM3,500 bribe at a restaurant in Bandar Baru Kubang Kerian at 3.25pm on April 12 as inducement to speed up the approval rice transfer permits.
Nik Yaacob claimed trial before Judge Adli Abd Ghalib.
The court allowed the accused to be released on a RM3,000 bail with one surety and fixed Sept 24 for re-mention of the case.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Nurdalilah Md Daud led the prosecution while Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal represented the accused.
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