IPOH: An agriculture assistant with Risda claimed trial to 13 charges of misleading his principle to release assistance to a landowner for eight plots of land at Mukim Sungai Tinggi in Trong, Taiping.
Azhar Abdul Hamid, 46, was accused of committing the offence between Sept 28, 2010 and May 16, 2011 at the Larut, Matang and Kerian district’s Risda office at Jalan Kota, Taiping.
He was alleged to have used an Initial Checks Report for land belonging to one Abdul Aziz Khan Abdul Kayum Khan to enable Abdul Aziz receive financial assistance to replant.
Azhar, who was charged at the special Corruption Court here today in front of Sessions judge Madihah Harullah, was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 and could be sentenced under Section 24 of the same Act.
He faces a jail term of not more than 20 years and fine if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor A. Hafiizh Abu Bakar from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission offered RM15,000 bail with one surety.
Defence counsel R. Rajasegaran however objected to the amount and said the bailor was Azhar’s wife.
“The purpose of bail was to ensure the accused attends court,” he said.
He added Azhar’s wife was a mere housewife and did not bring that much money to court.
“Prior to this, she was also not informed to prepare the amount of bail,” he said.
Madihah later fixed bail at RM15,000 with one surety and mention on Nov 26.