SHAH ALAM: A former Social Security Organisation (Socso) officer has claimed trial to obtaining RM76,000 as reward to approve employees incentives worth over RM4 million from the Penjana 3.0 programme last year.
Dhinnesh Shanmugam, 29, pleaded not guilty to four charges under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which were read out to him before Sessions Court Judge Datuk Anita Harun.
He was accused of having received RM19,000 on April 6, 15 , 21 and 29 respectively at Dengkil, Cyberjaya, Semenyih and Petaling Jaya to each time approve incentives worth RM1,007,100.
He was accused of getting the money as a form of reward from the owner of a company named GSD Resources through one G. Thanes.
It was meant for the approval of four incentive applications of 496 workers under the Penjana 3.0's workers hiring incentive programme and training programme.
Dhinnesh nodded and said he understood all the charges before pleading not guilty.
He faces a a maximum 20-years jail, a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever higher if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin urged the court to set RM30,000 bail with one surety for all charges.
However, counsel Iylia Hakim Abdul Wahid - who appeared for Dhinnesh, asked bail to be set at RM10,000.
He said his client had been dismissed from work and his bank account had been frozen since investigations into the case began.
Iylia said his client was just a low ranking Grade 19 officer with Socso and had been out of a job since his dismissal.
"His wife, who is a unit trust consultant who earns RM2,000 monthly, has been the sole bread winnner and caring for their parents since," he said.
The court later set RM25,000 bail with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the Putrajaya MACC headquarters before the 7th of every month.
The case is set for mention on Nov 15.