BINTULU: An immigration officer pleaded not guilty in the Bintulu Sessions Court to a charge of soliciting and accepting a RM5,000 bribe in connection with a case that occurred three years ago.
The 44-year-old accused made the plea after the charge was read before Judge Steve Ritikos at around 12 noon on Wednesday.
According to the charge, the accused, who serves in the Enforcement Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) here, allegedly asked for RM5,000 in cash from a staff member of Bintulu Port.
The money was allegedly solicited as a reward for closing an investigation involving the staff member’s father, who was suspected of harbouring undocumented immigrants (PATI), an offence under Section 55(E) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
The accused, who was the assistant investigating officer in the case, allegedly committed the offence at a bank in Bintulu on Feb 23, 2022 at about 10.15 pm.
The charge was brought under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If found guilty, the accused faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The court granted bail of RM3,000 with one surety and set June 25 for the next mention of the case.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yong Ann Nee led the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
