KOTA KINABALU: A civil servant pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to receiving a bribe of RM1,500.
Jazul Abdullah, 35, who appeared before judge Abu Bakar Manat, was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
The charge stated that Jazul, an Able Rate Class 1 (Laskar Kelas 1) at the Sabah Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) office here, had accepted RM1,500 as an inducement for not taking action against a man with an expired boat licence.
The offence was allegedly committed on March 17, 2021, at 7.30pm at a parking lot in front of Sabah Credit Corporation in Alam Mesra.
Jazul is liable to a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine five times the bribe amount upon conviction.
The court fixed Sept 6 for case management and granted bail at RM8,000, with RM3,000 to be deposited, in a local surety.
The court further ordered for his passport to be surrendered to the court, and for him to report to the MACC office twice a month and not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses pending disposal of the case.
MACC prosecuting officer Norsham Saharom appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.