JOHOR BARU: A 58-year-old woman has been charged at the Sessions Court here with bribing a local council personnel to avoid getting into trouble for operating without a business licence.
The accused Sia Joo Hoe pleaded not guilty to handing RM2,000 to an Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) enforcement assistant at around 9am on Aug 30, 2022.
She said she understood the charge after it was read before Sessions Judge Ahmad Kamal Ariffin Ismail on Wednesday (May 14).
Sia, who was working as a furniture store clerk at the time, was said to have bribed the enforcement personnel as an inducement to avoid action for operating an unlicensed business.
Operating without a business licence is an offence under the MBIP Licence, Trade, Businesses and Industrial Bylaw 2018, which is punishable with a fine of not more than RM2,000 or a jail term of not more than one year, or both upon conviction.
The bribery offence was framed under Section 214 of the Penal Code for offering gratification in consideration of concealing an offence.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Rais Adha Ramli offered bail at RM10,000.
Sia’s lawyer Chuah Shyue Chien asked the court for a bail of RM5,000, saying that the woman has retired and is taking care of her nine-month-old grandchild.
Ahmad Kamal Ariffin allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety.
The court also set June 18 for next mention and submission of documents.
