JOHOR BARU: A telecommunications shop trader was charged in the Sessions Court here with offering a RM600 bribe to an enforcement officer from the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) last year.
The accused, Liau Hock Soon, 28, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
According to the charge, Liau is accused of giving a RM600 bribe in cash to an MBIP enforcement assistant officer for not taking action against his shop, which was operating without a valid licence.
The offence was allegedly committed at a premises on Jalan Pelepas 3, Taman Perindustrian Tanjung Pelepas, Gelang Patah, at about 12.20pm on Dec 9 last year.
The charge was framed under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The accused also faces an alternative charge under Section 214 of the Penal Code for committing the same offence on the same date and time, which carries a sentence of up to one-quarter of the maximum punishment for the main offence, a fine, or both, if convicted.
Prosecution was led by MACC prosecuting officer Rais Adha Ramli, while the accused was represented by lawyer K. Barathi from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK).
The court allowed bail at RM7,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the Johor Baru MACC office every month.
The case has been set for mention on Dec 1.
