SHAH ALAM: Journalist B Nantha Kumar has pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to a charge of receiving a bribe from a Pakistani man last month.
Nantha Kumar, 42, entered the plea after the charge was read out to him before judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin on Friday (March 14).
He was accused of receiving the sum from the foreigner as an inducement to remove and not upload articles related to a foreign worker syndicate on the Malaysiakini website.
“I understand the charge. I plead not guilty,” he told the court.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at a hotel here at about 11.45pm on Feb 28.
The offence under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount of the bribe accepted upon conviction.
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Deputy public prosecutor Alis Izzati Azurin Mohd Rusdi proposed bail of RM20,000 with one surety.
As additional conditions, she sought an order for the accused to report to the MACC office and surrender his passport to the court.
Alis Izzati also said that although the offence was non-bailable, the court had the discretion to grant bail for appropriate situations.
"We submit that this suggested bail amount is reasonable to ensure his attendance in court.
"We also submit that individuals involved in white-collar crimes are flight risks, as the severe jail term they face may deter them from appearing in court,” she told the court.
Alis Izzati also requested that the accused refrain from publishing any further reports or statements on the case.
Lawyer P. Purshotaman, who acted for Nantha Kumar, a father of two, pleaded for a lower bail of RM5,000 as the sum and conditions proposed by the prosecution were excessive.
“He is 42 and married. He is a father of two; one is 18 and waiting for SPM results, while the other is 11 and still in school.
“He respects the judicial system and is innocent until proven guilty. As an award-winning journalist, he is known to have written reports on syndicates that could threaten the security of the country.
“He will come to court to clear his name,” he said.
Judge Nasir then set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and instructed Nantha Kumar to report to the nearest MACC office once a month pending disposal of the case.
Nasir also set April 23 for case mention.
The senior journalist, who has been reporting on various migrant worker syndicates, denies claims that he solicited RM100,000 from a Pakistani national or negotiated the amount down to RM20,000.
He was arrested on Feb 28, to assist in a bribery investigation and remanded for four days.
Last week, Malaysiakini published Nantha Kumar’s account of the events that led to his arrest.
Nantha Kumar has maintained that he was working with a state Immigration director to uncover a syndicate involved in exploiting migrant workers.
