KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior officer and a businessman were charged at the Sessions Court here today with soliciting and accepting bribes related to an investigation into the son of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mohd Rasyidi Mohd Said, who was the commission's investigation branch chief, and Mohd Hussein Mohd Nasir, also known as "Datuk Roy", pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin.
The duo arrived separately about 8am. They were escorted by several MACC officers at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex here today.
They were jointly charged with soliciting a RM400,000 bribe from Siti Dalena Berhan and her husband, Syed Farid Syed Ahmad Al Atas, near Lorong Kurau here between 9pm and 11pm on March 5.
They were also charged with accepting a RM240,000 bribe from the same couple at a fast food restaurant near Desa Sri Hartamas between 2pm and 4pm on March 6.
The money was an inducement to prevent the remand of Datuk Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin, the eldest son of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, by MACC.
Hussein was also charged with soliciting RM2 million for himself from the same couple as an inducement to interfere in the corruption charges against Bersatu Segambut deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad.
He was accused of committing the offence near Kampung Melayu Kepong in February this year.
All the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same act, which carries up to 20 years' jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
MACC prosecuting officer Selvam T. Armugom asked the court to impose bail between RM10,000 and RM15,000 against both accused.
"The accused also need to surrender their passports to the court and report themselves at a nearby MACC office monthly."
Lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin who appeared for Hussein did not object to the bail application.
However, Rasyidi's lawyer, Mohd Hezri Shaharil, pleaded for minimum bail, saying that his client was a civil servant and a father of four, and needed to support his family.
Suzana set bail at RM15,000 and RM10,000 with one surety against Hussein and Rasyidi, respectively.
The court also fixed July 7 for mention.