JOHOR BARU: A construction waste disposal company owner was charged in the Sessions Court here with offering a RM2,000 bribe to an Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) enforcement officer two years ago.
The accused, Wong Teck Siong, 49, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read in Mandarin before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
Wong is accused of corruptly offering RM2,000 in cash to an MBIP enforcement officer (grade KP19) as an inducement to avoid enforcement action for illegally dumping garbage and industrial waste at a non-designated area, an offence under Section 109 of the Local Government Act 1976.
The alleged offence took place at an illegal dumping site in Taman Nusa Duta at about 5.45pm on Nov 2, two years ago.
The charge was framed under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Wong also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of giving a bribe of RM2,000 to the officer as a reward for not taking enforcement action, under Section 214 of the Penal Code. This section carries a penalty of up to one-fourth of the longest term provided for the offence, or a fine, or both.
MACC prosecuting officer Alice Voon Mei Ling told the court the charge was non-bailable and prosecution did not offer bail.
However, lawyer Lim Seay Sean appealed for a low bail, citing Wong’s status as a single father with a 20-year-old daughter, unstable income, and ongoing treatment for nasal cancer.
The court allowed bail at RM7,000 with one surety, ordered Wong to surrender his passport, and to report monthly to the Johor Baru MACC office. The case is set for mention on Nov 21.
