PETRA JAYA: An assistant engineer with the State Rural Water Supply Department was charged at the Kuching Special Court for Corruption here today with abuse of power.
Jamal Abdullah, 48, pleaded not guilty when he was produced in Court to face the charges.
The accused was charged with abusing his position by hiring a company owned by a family member to conduct maintenance works on irrigation system in the rural areas in the state two years ago.
He was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
Judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong fixed five days beginning Oct 29 for hearing. The mention date for the case has been fixed on Sept 24.
Nixon also granted RM25,000 bail in two sureties against Jamal.
MACC prosecuting officer Ikhwan Mohd Ibrahim prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsel Francis Wee.
It was reported that Jamal was arrested when he was summoned to give his statement at the state MACC headquarters in Jalan Laksamana here at 3.50pm yesterday.
The accused was believed to have abused his power by asking the company, belonging to his wife and relative, to conduct several maintenance works for rural water system for areas in Bau, Lundu and Sematan throughout 2016.
Payment amounting to RM40,000 for all six maintenance works had been credited into the company’s account the same year.