KUALA LUMPUR: An immigration officer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Friday (Nov 14) to 11 counts of abusing her position for personal gain in relation to Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK) applications involving three companies owned by a relative.
According to the charges, Noorhaslenda Zainal Abidin, 45, a Grade KP22 Immigration Officer, allegedly abused her position by recommending the approval of RTK applications for Tok Tuan Enterprise, Tok Tuan 2 Enterprise and Dyha Scarf.
The three companies are owned by her relative, in whose business she is alleged to have an interest.
She is accused of committing the offences at the RTK Unit of the Foreign Workers Division, Immigration Department in Putrajaya between March and November 2023.
The charges were brought under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694), which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law. The section provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Rosli Ahmad set Dec 16 for mention and allowed the accused bail of RM30,000 for all charges. She was also ordered to surrender her passport to the court and report to the MACC office once a month. - Bernama
