BUTTERWORTH: An engineer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Thursday (July 3) to a charge of soliciting a RM13,000 bribe from a company director three years ago
Mohamed Rizal Salim, 40, entered the plea before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah after the charge was read out to him.
He is accused of requesting a bribe from HHSB Enterprise director Toh Kean Hin as an inducement, in his capacity as a Grade J41 civil engineer at the Irrigation and Drainage Department, to approve procurement works in favour of the company.
The alleged offence took place at the department's Barat Daya District Engineer's Office on March 25, 2022.
He was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and faces punishment under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Azura Zulkiflee proposed bail at RM15,000. However, defence counsel Aqmarul Aqil Ismail, requested a lower amount, citing his client's financial obligations.
"My client earns RM6,000 a month and supports his unemployed wife and four children aged between two and 11. He also pays RM1,300 in rent for his own home and RM450 for his mother's, who is suffering from uterine cancer and diabetes," he said.
The court set bail at RM10,000 with conditions, requiring the accused to report monthly to the MACC and surrender his passport, with the case set for mention on August 8. – Bernama
