MELAKA: A 44-year-old former bank officer claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to 26 counts of charges for soliciting bribes amounting to RM153,622.47 between 2018 and 2023.
The accused, Mohd Rais Mohamed Ramli, entered his plea before Judge Elesabet Paya Wan on Tuesday (Feb 25).
The accused allegedly solicited bribes from a legal firm as an inducement to help secure case referrals involving housing loan transactions with Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) Bank, facilitated by bank executives under his supervision.
The offences were allegedly committed at a restaurant in Jalan PM5, Plaza Mahkota here between Jan 2018 and Dec 2023.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.
The section provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of either five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Fatin Nur Athirah Zainudin from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuted.
She proposed a bail of RM100,000 with one surety and additional conditions, including the surrender of the accused’s passport to the court and a requirement to report to the Selangor MACC office once a month until the end of the case proceedings.
The accused was represented by lawyer Andrew Lourdes.
The court later set bail at RM37,000 with one surety and imposed additional conditions.
The next mention date is fixed on April 9.
