BUTTERWORTH: Two policemen pleaded not guilty today to soliciting and accepting bribes from a man believed to possess drugs.
Constable Zaidi Tahir, 27, was charged with three counts of soliciting and accepting bribe and Lance Corporal Ismail Mohamad Bohari, 35, was charged with two counts of similar offences.
The two policemen attached to Mak Mandin police station here claimed trial when the charges were read to the duo separately.
On the first count, Zaidi was accused of asking for a bribe of RM10,000 from Lee Chia Yoong as inducement for him not to take action against the latter and Lee Theng Theng, who were believed to have possessed 96 Eramin Five (5) pills.
He was accused of committing the offence at a lane in Jalan Kampung Puyu here on Nov 6, 2010 between 11am and 12pm.
On the second and third count, Zaidi was accused of accepting RM5,000 and RM3,000 bribe from Lee Chia Yoong behind a petrol station at Jalan Raja Uda here on Nov 6, 2010 at about 1pm and Nov 10, 2010 at about 5pm, respectively.
Ismail was also accused of accepting a bribe of the same amount from Lee Chia Yoong for the same purpose at the same place on the same two occasions.
Both policemen were charged under Section 16(a)(B) and Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same Act
They face up to 20 years jail and a fine not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Syahrul Khuzaini Amiruddin prosecuted which the two accused were unrepresented before Sessions Court judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi.
Meor Sulaiman fixed mention on Nov 20.