KUALA LUMPUR: The director of a consultancy firm has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of failing to report being offered bribes totalling RM100,000 to expedite claims under the Penjana Programme three years ago.
Muhammad Ispandi Othman, 54, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Rosli Ahmad here on Friday (June 6).
According to the charge sheet, he was allegedly offered the bribes in cash from a company director through an intermediary to assist in expediting claims made to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
However, he is accused of failing to report the bribe offers to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The offences were allegedly committed at several locations, including Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Taman Bukit Maluri, and Bandar Manjalara, between Feb 25, 2021 and July 20, 2022.
The charges, framed under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009 and punishable under Section 25(2), carry a fine of up to RM100,000 or a maximum jail term of 10 years, or both, upon conviction.
DPP Selvam T. Armugom proposed bail at RM50,000 for all charges, while defence counsel Nor Azam Rashid Zainol Rashid, representing the accused, appealed for a lower bail amount.
Judge Rosli allowed the accused to be released on RM50,000 bail in one surety for all charges, with additional conditions that his passport be surrendered to the court and that he must not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The court then fixed July 4 for mention of the case. – Bernama
